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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


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THOUGHTS 


ARDELIA  COTTON  BARTON 


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SAN   FRANCISCO 

THE    MURDOCK    PRESS 

1903 


Copyright  1903 
By  Ardelia  Cotton  Barton 


I    DEDICATE    THIS    LITTLE    BOOK    TO    MY    HUSBAND,  WHO   HAS 
RECEIVED    WITH    PLEASURE,     EACH    THOUGHT    AT    ITS    BIRTH 


1  1 5686 


PREFACE 

Thought  is  the  parent.  If  error  has  crept  in  among 
the  little  thoughts,  and  the  children  have  become  dis 
obedient  and  refractory,  it  is  not  the  parent's  fault. 
Nor  must  you  blame  the  children  either;  they  are 
young  yet,  and  you  must  not  expect  too  much  of  them. 
Sincerely  yours, 

ARDELIA  COTTON  BARTON. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THOUGHT  WAVES 13 

THOUGHT     SHADOWS     14 

TO   A    MOUNTAIN    STREAM    l6 

"  LET  THERE  BE  LIGHT  " l8 

DREAMS  OF  CHILDHOOD 2O 

I   CAN,    I   WILL    22 

PLANS    UNFULFILLED     25 

LOVE'S    PLEADING    27 

"  OLD  GLORY  " 29 

PEACE — WHEN  WILL  IT  COME? 31 

"  THE  ISLES  OF  THE  BLEST  " 32 

VOICES     34 

STORE  UP  THE  SUNSHINE 36 

BE   WATCHFUL 39 

CHILD     SLANDER     4O 

THE   SNOW-FLOWER    OF   THE    SIERRAS     43 

BRIDGE  OF  MOTES 45 

FAME 47 


THE    GRIND    OF    LIFE 


49 


LIFE  S    DRAMA 

WHAT   IS    GOD'S    BEST   GIFT   TO    MAN  ?     52 

LOVE'S     GUIDE-BOARD      54 

FORT    DESPAIR     56 

"  AM  i  MY  BROTHER'S  KEEPER  ?  "  59 

SPACE 6l 

SHIPWRECKED    62 

TRUTH'S  TORCH  63 

"  A  LAW  UNTO  THYSELF  " 65 

HOME 67 

THE    PEACE    THAT    PASSETH    UNDERSTANDING     68 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

FREE    MORAL    AGENTS    WE    7° 

NO   LIMIT    73 

SOUL  AND  SPIRIT  75 

"  A  GRAIN  OF  SAND  CAN  DEFY  ALL  THE  GODS  "  76 

NO  REASON  HAVE  WE  TO  COMPLAIN 78 

THE  CHAIN  OF  LIFE  IS  PERFECT  80 

LOVE'S  PLEA  83 

"THE  SPIRIT  OF  TRUTH  WILL  GUIDE  YOU  INTO  ALL  TRUTH".  .  84 

REINCARNATION    86 

LOST  ENDEAVOR  89 

LITTLE  THINGS    QI 

THE  MUMMY'S  APPEAL 95 

LIFE'S  CHAIN 98 

PICTURES  ON  MEMORY'S  WALL 100 

THE  COQUETTE  FLOWER   IO2 

"  SEEK,  AND  YE  SHALL  FIND  ;    KNOCK,  AND  IT   SHALL  BE 

OPENED    UNTO   YOU  "    IO5 

"  GATHERING  OF  THE  SHEAVES  " IO8 

THE  NEW  YEAR   I IO 

THE  BIRTH  OF  A  STATE 112 

A  SONG  OF  DAVID  115 

DRIFTWOOD    1 16 

"  MY  PEACE  GIVE  I  UNTO  YOU  "   119 

THE  LAND  OF  SOMEWHERE ; 121 

DOST  THOU  KNOW  ? 122 

HEART-YEARNINGS   125 

THE  SUN-WORSHIPERS 127 

BABY'S    SHOE    130 

BABY'S  DREAM  133 

ON  FINDING  A  BIT  OF  PENCIL  137 

WORK   IS   HONORABLE    139 

TAHITI     141 

A    LETTER     143 

TIME'S  RAVAGES  144 


10 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

CATCH   THE   SUNSHINE    I4^> 

SHADOWS J47 

"  GO  IN   PEACE,   SIN   NO  MORE  "    I49 

THE    FUTURE    OF    YOUTH     T52 

DON'T   TROUBLE   YOURSELF    J53 

THE  TWO    ROADS    T55 

LOVE'S  MELODY   I59 

LOVE'S     LANGUAGE     J6l 

DRIFTING      ID3 

"  A  SKELETON  IN  EVERY  CLOSET  " 105 

THE    BROOK     ^7 

GATHER   BEAMS    OF    SUNSHINE    IDQ 

HUMANITY      I7I 

RIGHT  WILL  TRIUMPH   OVER  WRONG J73 

DUTY 176 

SOMETIME      178 

MEMORIES      l80 

SMILES   OR  TEARS    1 82 

"  KEEP  THE  UPPER   WINDOWS   OPEN  "    I§3 

"  THE    LOST    CHORD  "     I§4 

"  GOD    GIVETH    HIS    BELOVED    SLEEP  "    185 

SIN    WILL    LEAVE    ITS    SCARS     !§7 

SOMETIME    AND    SOMEWHERE    l8p 

WHAT  IS  LIFE? IQ2 

LIFE'S  CONFLICT   X95 

THE  SEASONS 1 97 

BRING   LOVING   THOUGHTS    20O 

MEMORIES    OF   THE    BUTTERNUT-TREE    202 

TO-DAY     204 

TO  THE  CALIFORNIA  POPPY    205 

DOST    REMEMBER    '. 206 

WHAT    IS    THOUGHT  ?     208 

WHAT    THOUGHT    MAY    BE    2IO 

FINALE     .  213 


I  I 


THOUGHT    WAVES 

A  vibratory  wave  of  thought 
Swept  o'er  the  face  of  earth. 

It  permeated  brain  of  man, 
Intelligence  had  birth. 

God  touched  the  button  (as  it  were)  ; 

Electric  sparks  burst  out, 
And  scattered  beams  of  brilliant  light, 

And  banished  ignorant  doubt. 

The  wires  are  laid  from  brain  to  brain, 
Soon  soul  to  soul  can  speak. 

We  all  must  learn  to  read  the  lines ; 
The  key  we  all  must  seek. 

When  soul  to  soul  can  message  send — 
Dispatched  from  mind  to  mind,— 

All  nations  will  be  swayed  by  thought, 
And  thought  will  rule  mankind. 


THOUGHT    SHADOWS 

Thoughts  are  shaded  with  a  pencil, 

Ofttimes  heavily  and  black. 
But  so  faint  the  shading  sometimes 

That  our  lives  may  seem  to  lack 
High  design  and  strength  of  purpose. 

Yet  o'er  the  surface  oft  is  seen, 
Even  through  the  finest  shading, 

Strength  of  will,  from  which  we  glean 

Many  gems  of  rarest  value, 

Which  transmit  the  light  within ; 
Flashing  with  prismatic  colors 

Purest  soul  thought,  which  will  win 
Loving   hearts   and   trusting   friendships, 

Deeds  of  valor,  courage  strong, 
Never  ending — nay,  forever 

Helping  on  the  mighty  throng. 


THOUGHT    SHADOWS 

Light  though  shadows  as  a  zephyr, 
Yet  they  have  the  strength  of  God ; 

Lasting  ever  and  forever, 

Though  we  are  beneath  the  sod. 

Earth  is  circled  with  thought-girdle, 

r  Many  links  of  it  are  weak ; 

Some  are  broken  by  dissension, 
And  we  often  vainly  seek 

Thought  to  fathom,  with  its  marvels, 

And  we  vaguely,  wondering  stand, 
Even  thinking  had  we  builded, 

Stronger  would  have  been  thought's  wand. 
What  is  life  but  lights  and  shadows? 

What  is  life  but  good  and  ill  ? 
Life  is  just  what  we  have  made  it, 

Is  the  outgrowth  of  our  will. 


TO    A    MOUNTAIN    STREAM 

The  mountain  stream  for  aeons  past 

Hath  cut  its  way  through  mountains  grand, 

Untiring  in  its  eager  course 

To  win  its  way  from  mount  to  strand. 

It  chants 'a  requiem,  sometimes  sad; 

Again  it  warbles  notes  of  joy. 
To  ears  attuned  to  anthems  sweet, 

It  sings  a  song  without  alloy. 

The  trees,  their  branches  bending  low 
To  kiss  the  sparkling  waters  pure, 

E'er  mingle  tender  love-notes  sweet — 
A  love  that  ever  will  endure. 

Then  answering  back  from  tree  to  tree, 
The  song-birds  trill  their  notes  of  love. 

And  e'en  the  hum  of  insect  life 

Seems  prayer  devout  to  God  above. 


16 


TO    A    MOUNTAIN    STREAM 

Tall  firs  and  pines  seem  sentinels, 

To  guard  the  stream  from  vandal  hands. 

Wild  roses  scatter  their  perfume, 
Pure  incense  to  the  angel  bands. 

The  virgin  soil  was  not  defiled 
By  careless  tread  in  ages  past; 

Xo  mocking  laugh,  nor  impious  word, 
Made  nature  sad,  with  grief  o'ercast. 

The  flowers  bloomed  on  unseen  by  man, 
As  ages  came,  then  passed  away. 

The    snowflakes    made    them    graves    and 

shrouds, 
For  flowers  bloom  but  to  decay. 

O  mountain  stream !  O  trees  and  flowers ! 

Man  now  hath  come ;  thy  home  invades. 
No  more  the  silence  of  the  past 

On  mountain  crown  and  evergreen  glades. 


"LET    THERE    BE    LIGHT" 

There  was  darkness  o'er  the  land — 
Deep  darkness  as  the  night, — 

Superstition  then  held  sway; 
But  God  said,  "  Be  there  light." 

Cruel  man  made  cruel  God — 

Aye,  standing  in  His  might, 
With  arms  outstretched  to  curse  the  race, 

Then  God  said,  "  Be  there  light." 

Superstition  revel  held ; 

Naught  else  could  hold  its  right. 
God  then  spake  in  thunder  tones, 

"  We  give  to  man  the  light." 

Sacrificed  was  man  at  stake, 

And  in  dark  dungeon  cast ; 
Crucified  for  non-belief, 

Belief  that  still  doth  last. 


18 


"LET   THERE    BE   LIGHT" 

Then,  with  love,  God  spake  to  rrian- 
And  to  his  blinded  sight 

Revelation  came  at  last, 
And  unto  him  new  light, 

And  no  more  will  darkness  deep 
Envelop  this  earth  bright. 

Evermore  will  God's  word  stand- 
He  says,  "Let  there  be  light." 


DREAMS    OF    CHILDHOOD 

Comes  to  me  a  breath  of  perfume — 
Breath  of  rose  and  eglantine. 

Memories  bringing  back  of  childhood, 
When  I  drank  of  Life's  rich  wine. 

Ne'er  forgotten  is  my  childhood, — 

Ne'er  forgotten  is  the  time 
When  I  sat  by  kitchen  fireplace, 

On  its  shelf  was  pot  of  thyme. 

Then  the  birds  seemed  singing  love-songs, 

E'er  ascending  to  the  skies ; 
E'er  ascending  to  their  Maker 

All  their  calls  and  sweet  replies. 

Life  hath  been  not  all  bright  play-day, 
Oft  hath  come  to  me  the  rue; 

Oft  the  thorns  among  the  roses 
Have  in  life  come  to  my  view. 


20 


DREAMS    OF   CHILDHOOD 

Trusted  friends  have  proved  deceitful, 
Hopes  most  high  delusive  been, 

Disappointments  have  me  greeted, 
Purest  lives  have  shown  some  sin. 

Oft  I  've  tasted  gall  and  wormwood ; 

But  the  thought  of  roses  sweet 
Lingers  still  in  my  remembrance, 

I,  in  life,  their  perfume  greet. 

And  that  past  is  ever  present, 

Ever  present  in  my  heart, 
Filling  it  with  sweetest  love-thoughts, 

As  I  tread  the  world's  wide  mart. 

Nothing  now  is  quite  as  joyful, 
Nothing  now  but  hath  its  sting; 

But  the  joys  of  past  I  think  of, 
In  my  soul  those  pleasures  ring. 


21 


I    CAN,    I    WILL 

I  can,  I  will,  be  conqueror — 
Will  conquer  self  forever,  aye. 
Will  rise  above  all  selfish  thoughts; 
Some  little  good  do  every  day. 
The  past  is  past.     The  future  is 
A  closed  and  strongly  sealed-up  book. 
I  have  not  power  to  break  the  seal, 
Nor  on  its  pages  ever  look. 

I  can,  I  will,  love  all  mankind. 
Not  anger,  malice,  nor  dark  hate 
Shall  taint  the  well-spring  of  my  life ; 
Sweet  peace  shall  ever  on  me  wait. 
The  temple  of  my  soul  shall  be 
All  garnished,  and  from  evil  free ; 
Its  portals  guarded  well  from  sin 
Through  time  and  through  eternity. 


22 


I    CAN,    I   WILL 


I  can,  I  will,  face  every  foe 
Without,  and  also  from  within ; 
Will  try  to  live  a  life  all  pure, 
Untainted  it  by  thought  of  sin. 
To-day  is  mine  with  all  that  is — 
To-morrow  may  deep  sorrow  bring, 
But  also  strength  to  bear  all  ills ; 
So  of  to-day  I  will  be  king. 

I  can,  I  will,  take  up  my  cross, 
Though  heavy  it  may  be  to  bear. 
I  know  that  God  will  give  me  strength 
And  ever  have  me  in  His  care. 
The  past  can  never  be  recalled — 
No  cause  have  I  to  court  despair ; 
Self-centered,  in  my  soul  of  souls, 
All  sorrows  I,  with  smiles,  can  bear. 


I    CAN,    I   WILL 


I  can,  I  will,  help  other  souls 

To  bear  the  pains  and  griefs  of  life. 

In  love  should  all  united  be — 

'T  is  ignorance  that  doth  breed  all  strife. 

When  man  shall  know  his  heritage, 

Unites  himself  to  higher  will, 

This  world  will  be  a  paradise, 

Sweet  harmony  his  soul  shall  fill. 

I  can,  I  will,  be  to  myself 

A  law,  though  helped  by  higher  power. 

God  sows  the  seeds  of  righteousness — 

I  will  not  be  a  blighted  flower. 

I  can,  I  will,  do  every  work 

My  willing  hands  may  find  to  do ; 

If  doubt  and  fear  hath  weakened  me, 

Each  day  will  God  my  strength  renew. 


24 


PLANS    UNFULFILLED 

"  The  mighty  wheel  of  circumstance 

Doth  turn  upon  a  hinge." 
Full  oft  it  turns  with  lightning  speed, 

And  often  doth  impinge 
Upon  our  plans,  so  perfect  laid 

That  naught  would  seem  to  shake, 
Nor  change  them  in  the  smallest  way, 

Their  strength  and  wisdom  break. 

We  're  ever  making  plans  for  life, 

But  seldom  plans  for  death, 
Though  death  we  know  must  come  to  us, 

And  life  is  but  a  breath. 
The  wheel  turns  round,  the  plan  is  changed 

With  never  thought  of  ours. 
We  then  begin  to  plan  anew, 

Regardless  of  the  showers 


PLANS    UNFULFILLED 

Of  disappointments  falling  fast, 

That  check  the  flowing  stream 
Of  well-laid  plans  in  sunshine  made, 

Of  hopes  which  brightly  gleam. 
Again  the  wheel  turns  round  and  round; 

Another  plan  laid  low, 
Engulfed  forever  in  the  pool 

That 's  filling  fast  with  woe. 

The  hinges  creak;  so  often  wet 

With  tears  from  broken  hopes. 
Too  soon,  alas !  the  wheel  must  stop. 

E'en  now  no  more  it  copes 
With  broken  hearts,  with  futile  plans; 

Its  spokes  are  all  now  gone; 
The  hinges  broken  are  by  rust. 

No  hope  is  ever  won. 


26 


LOVE'S    PLEADING 

Come  near  to  me.  my  own  sv/eetheart, 

I  '11  breathe  to  thee  Love's  tender  token. 
Oh,  put  your  hand,  sweet  love,  in  mine, 

Nor  fear  the  storms  that  oft  have  broken 
O'er  homes  once  filled  with  love  and  joy, 

Brought  grief  to  lives  despite  Love's  pleading, 
Made  desolate  hearths,  and  wrecked  all  hopes, 

And  left  Love's  wings  all  bruised  and  bleeding 

Dost  them  love  me  as  I  love  thee? 

Wilt  give  thyself  into  my  keeping? 
Hast  thou  no  fear  that  false  I  '11  be, 

That  I  will  cause  thee  grief  and  weeping? 
Wilt  thou  to  me  give  heart  and  hand? 

Wilt  walk  Love's  path  with  me  forever? 
My  heart  shall  be  to  thee  so  true 

That  naught  on  earth  nor  heaven  can  sever. 


27 


LOVE'S    PLEADING 

E'en  though  dark  storms  beset  our  way, 

We  '11  ever  walk  that  way  together, 
We  '11  have  a  home  all  filled  with  love, 

And  brightness  from  all  clouds  we  '11  gather. 
The  roof  of  home  be  thatched  with  peace — 

All  safe  we  '11  be  in  Love's  bright  bower. 
Come  to  my  arms !    I  '11  hold  thee,  love, 

And  God  will  blessings  on  us  shower. 

The  door  of  home  shall  open  be 

To  all  the  good  who  choose  to  enter. 
A  paradise  this  home  shall  be, 

And  thee,  my  love,  will  be  its  center. 
My  heart  is  filled  with  joy  divine, — 

My  life  is  filled  with  utmost  pleasure. 
For  thou  art  now  my  own  sweet  bride ; 

And  evermore  my  greatest  treasure. 


28 


"  OLD  GLORY " 

'T  is  waving  in  the  breeze,  "Old  Glory" ! 

And  e'en  the  wind  seems  proud  to  greet 
The  emblem  of  our  nation's  story — 

And  kisses  it  with  zephyrs  sweet. 

We  honor  it,  the  Flag  of  Freedom ! 

We  will  its  starry  folds  unfurl ; 
Its  stripes  are  not  the  stripes  of  serfdom, 

No  more  will  tyrants  dare  to  hurl 

A  shout  derisive  to  our  banner — 
Respect  it  hath  from  countries  free ; 

Demand  it  ever  will  our  people, 
From  every  nation  o'er  the  sea. 

Bow  down  not  we  to  degradation, 
We  hold  our  heads  as  freemen  brave ; 

We  stand  erect;  no  yoke  of  bondage 
Is  on  our  necks ;  our  Flag  doth  wave 


29 


"OLD  GLORY" 

O'er  freeman  born,  o'er  slavery  vanquished, 
O'er  wives  and  mothers  who  will  stand 

Enfranchised  yet,  by  husbands,  brothers, — 
United  all,  in  Freedom's  land. 

Our  country  doth  its  children  honor, 
And  blesses  them  with  lavish  hand, 

No  more  will  slavery  us  dishonor — 
For  banished  it  from  out  our  land. 

Our  Flag  cloth  wave  o'er  many  turrets, 
And  all  shall  it  respect,  revere, 

And  aliens  never  more  will  curse  it, 
For  to  all  hearts  it  will  be  dear. 

Unfurl  our  Flag!     Unfurl  "Old  Glory"! 

And  wave  it  aye  aloft,  above ; 
We  bless  its  stars,  we  bless  its  colors ; 

We  kiss  its  stripes  with  children's  love. 


PEACE— WHEN  WILL  IT  COME? 

This  weary  watching,  waiting — 

This  waiting  for  the  time 
When  man  will  love  his  brother, 

Of  ev'ry  land  and  clime. 

When  all  shall  speak  one  language, — 

That  language  faith  in  man ; 
When  naught  of  race  nor  color 

Shall  be  to  love  a  ban. 

Then  quarrels  will  be  settled, 

Without  the  use  of  arms ; 
No  war-note  will  be  sounded 

The  key-note  of  alarms. 

Of  swords  we  '11  make  our  ploughshares 
When  peace  shall  rule  all  lands ; 

The  idioms  of  nations 

Be  friendly  clasp  of  hands. 


UTHE    ISLES    OF    THE    BLEST ': 

Oh,  where  are  these  isles  to  be  found? 

And  in  what  bright  sea  do  they  rest  ? 
The  souls  that  inhabit  these  isles, 

Oh,  what  is  their  work  ?    What  behest 

Is  given  to  them  from  on  high  ? 

Do  ever  they  shed  bitter  tears  ? 
Are  ever  dark  clouds  o'er  these  isles? 

No  cloud  in  this  land  e'er  appears. 

What  ship  shall  I  take  for  these  isles? 

And  what  shall  the  freightage  now  be  ? 
Take  all  of  your  hopes ;  pack  with  care, 

You  pack  for  the  isles  of  life's  sea. 

Is  there  a  ship  worthy  such  freight? 

And  builded  is  she  with  great  care? 
If  stranded  she  were  on  life's  sea — 

Oh,  never  the  loss  could  I  bear. 


"THE   ISLES    OF    THE    BLEST" 

Perhaps  she  '11  ne'er  reach  these  fair  isles, 
But  sink  with  the  hopes  I  have  sent. 

Then,  what  will  become  of  my  life  ? 
For  all  of  my  faith  will  be  spent. 

And  e'en  if  we  reach  these  fair  isles, 
What  promise  have  We  of  sweet  peace? 

What  promise  have  we  of  our  rest? 
Our  every  grief  may  increase. 

Fear  not.  When  your  ship  reaches  port 
A  grave  is  your  harbor  of  rest. 

Your  spirit  then  breaks  its  strong  chains, 
And  soars  to  the  "Isles  of  the  Blest." 


33 


VOICES 

Voices,  to  us  ever  calling, 

Calling  us  from  o'er  the  way ; 
Voices  coming  from  the  shadows, 

Whispering  to  our  souls  alway; 
Voices  speaking  from  the  mountains 

Seem  to  toll  a  requiem  sad, 
Then  again  from  mount  and  valley 

Ring  out  notes  so  clear  and  glad. 

Moaning  voices  from  the  ocean, 

Messages  oft  bring  to  me — 
Trilling  love-songs  are  the  birdlings, 

Muttering  ever  is  the  sea. 
All  the  flowers  are  singing  anthems, 

Praising  God  that  they  do  live ; 
Sending  forth  their  perfume  gladly, 

Fragrance  sweet  to  all  they  give. 


34 


VOICES 

Voices  calling  from  the  distance, 

From  the  storm-clouds  and  the  rain, 
From  the  dew-drops  and  the  sunshine; 

Speak  they  not  to  us  in  vain. 
Angels'  voices  from  the  heavens 

Seem  to  speak  from  tiny  star; 
Seem  to  speak  from  all  the  planets, — 

Their  sweet  voices  never  jar. 

Voices  hear  I  sweetly  singing, 
Softly  murmuring  o'er  the  vales, 

Sow  good  seed ;  then  reap  your  harvest, 
Store  it  well,  'fore  coming  gales. 

'T  is  the  voice  of  God  who  speaketh, 
Echoing  o'er  the  sea  and  land, 

List  you  to  this  voice  almighty- 
God  hath  given  you  this  command. 


35 


STORE    UP    THE    SUNSHINE 

We  should  garner  all  the  sunshine 
That  in  our  pathway  lies, 

We  should  store  in  heart  the  blossom 
Of  good  which  never  dies. 

For  so  bright  is  summer  sunshine 
That  shadows  e'en  are  warm. 

Soon  the  chilling  winds  of  autumn 
Will  cold,  dark  shadows  form. 

Soon  may  come  the  tears  of  sorrow, 
As  comes  the  chilling  blast. 

So  no  grief  we  need  to  borrow, 
No  shadow  overcast 

The  sweet  hope  of  happy  morrow; 

Deface  it  not  with  gloom ; 
In  dark  crannies  store  up  sunshine, 

For  there  is  ever  room 


STORE   UP    THE    SUNSHINE 


For  a  little  ray  to  enter, 

And  lighten  up  the  nook; 
Then  the  shadows  dark  will  vanish, 

And  brighter  it  will  look. 

We  will  overcome  all  darkness, 
Will  only  choose  bright  day, 

Smiles  should  ever  hide  the  tear-drops, 
And  longer  with  us  stay. 

Oh,  then  garner  beams  of  sunshine — 
Store  smiles,  instead  of  tears. 

For  behind  the  darkest  shadow 
Some  little  light  appears. 

Much  too  oft  wre  make  life  gloomy — 

When  happy  we  might  be, 
If  we  gathered  more  of  sunshine, 

And  not  dark  shadows  see. 


37 


STORE   UP   THE    SUNSHINE 


E'en  though  shadows  oft  are  needed 
To  make  our  lives  complete, 

They  should  never  be  in  foreground, 
Thus  first  our  eyes  them  meet. 

Though  the  days  be  dark  and  gloomy, 

We  promise  have  of  light. 
Oh,  so  soon  we'd  tire  of  sunshine, 

If  there  were  never  night. 


BE    WATCHFUL 

In  the  hurry  and  the  skurry 

Of  life,  with  all  its  cares; 
With  the  trouble  and  the  worry, 

And  all  the  many  snares, 
We  too  oft  neglect  our  duties, 

Too  oft  impatient  are 
To  our  weary  fellow  workers, 

And  often  thus  debar 
Them  from  many  joys  and  pleasures 

Which  are  their  right  and  due, 
Thus  depriving  them  of  solace, 

And  giving  pain  in  lieu. 
We  should  ever  be  more  watchful, 

More  heedful  of  our  words ; 
For  we  little  know  the  sorrow 

And  trouble  that  engirds 
All  of  life,  though  it  seems  happy, 

Nor  all  the  tears  that  flow, 
Nor  the  grief  that  doth  embitter, 

Nor  all  the  hidden  woe. 


39 


CHILD    SLANDER 

He  was  born  of  thoughtless  parents — 

Scarce  had  strength  to  cry  or  moan, 
He  was  nursed  by  Indiscretion ; 

Never  left  was  he  alone. 
All  his  food  was  condemnation ; 

All  his  drink  was  hearsay  vile. 
And  full  well  he  thrived  on  scandal, 

Growing  stronger  all  the  while. 

Soon  his  mother  went  a  journey — 

Took  her  child  with  mother's  pride; 
He  was  petted,  loved,  and  flattered, 

And  was  quoted  far  and  wide. 
He  was  dressed  in  gorgeous  colors, 

All  his  dress  prepared  by  Thought. 
And  embellished  was  Child  Slander 

By  rich  gems  from  Envy  wrought. 


40 


CHILD    SLANDER 


And  most  skillful  the  inventions, 

For  from  master  hand  they  came. 
But  no  one  could  find  inventor, 

Though  his  work  won  highest  fame. 
The  companions  of  Child  Slander 

Were  deep  malice,  lies,  and  hate; 
Innuendoes  sly  and  noisome 

Did  with  joy  upon  him  wait. 

When  this  child  had  grown  to  manhood, 

He  was  powerful  and  strong; 
And  no  more  with  fear  did  tremble, 

But  with  courage  joined  a  throng 
Of  low,  busy  scandal-mongers, 

Who  went  forth  to  slay  at  will  ; 
Springing  slyly  on  their  victims — 

All  prepared  were  they  to  kill. 


CHILD    SLANDER 


He  forgotten  has  his  parents ; 

Trace  of  them  no  more  is  found; 
But  he  needs  their  help  no  longer, 

He  with  cunning  now  is  crowned. 
He  becomes  the  sire  of  Murder, 

And  Disgrace  is  his  strong  friend. 
Desolation  in  his  pathway 

He  is  waiting;  all  to  rend. 

All  who  come  within  his  precincts — 

Friend  and  foe  will  share  alike, 
And  are  stung  by  fangs  of  Slander ; 

Ready  he  each  one  to  strike. 
But  at  last  success  makes  drunken, 

Slander  stings  himself,  then  dies,— 
Dies  at  last  from  his  own  venom ; 

In  dishonored  grave  he  lies. 


42 


THE    SNOW-FLOWER    OF    THE    SIERRAS 

Beneath  thy  blanket  pure  and  white, 

Hast  slept  thou  all  the  winter  through. 
Thy  dreams  were  of  thy  birthday  morn, 

And  of  the  sun  which  wouldst  thee  woo; 
With  ardent  gaze  from  eyes  of  fire, 

To  thee  give  kiss  and  luring  smile. 
And  pressing  lips  upon  thy  brow, 

His  warm  embrace  wouldst  thee  beguile. 

Thou  blushest  e'en  at  thought  of  kiss, 

And  peeping  out  of  blanket  warm, 
Dost  think  of  dress  which  thou  wilt  wear, 

The  raiment  which  shall  deck  thy  form. 
With  sigh  of  joy  dost  raise  thy  head, 

And  springing  from  thy  couch  of  snow, 
All  rosy  red  from  thy  long  sleep, 

Returnst  the  kiss  he  did  bestow. 


43 


THE    SNOW-FLOWER   OF   THE    SIERRAS 

Sweet  bride  thou  art,  around  thee  thrown 

Is  bridal  veil  of  purest  white. 
No  dress  more  gorgeous  in  the  land — 

'T  is  woven  on  a  loom  of  light. 
Entranced  are  all  by  thy  sweet  face, 

But  fleeting  is  thy  beauty  rare ; 
Too  soon  thy  fragile  form  will  fall, 

Dissolve  too  soon  in  wintry  air. 

The  love  that  coaxed  thee  from  thy  couch 

Soon  hid  itself  behind  the  hills. 
For  e'en  the  love  of  Sun-God  bright, 

So  selfish  is,  it  ofttimes  kills. 
Thy  bridal  veil  is  now  thy  shroud, 

Thy  pure  white  bed  is  now  thy  grave. 
Death  claims  thee,   fair  forsaken  bride  ; 

But  better  death  than  life — a  slave. 


44 


BRIDGE    OF    MOTES 

On  bridge  of  motes  around  the  earth 

Can  travel  fast  all  thought. 
Can  travel  joy,  can  travel  grief; 

This  bridge  by  God  was  wrought. 

The  motes  seem  things  of  form  and  life- 
E'er  changing  with  the  light. 

The  bridge  is  there,  though  never  seen 
Except  in  sunshine  bright. 

The  bridge  of  life  is  made  of  motes, 
So  small  they  ne'er  are  known, 

But  joined  by  rays  of  sunshine  bright, 
The  motes  have  larger  grown. 

Our  every  thought,  our  every  act 
Helps  build  a  bridge  of  strength. 

Though  often  hidden  by  the  clouds, 
So  not  is  seen  its  length, 


45 


BRIDGE    OF   MOTES 

Nor  height,  nor  breadth,  nor  power  to  stand 

And  govern  weak  mankind, 
Some  motes  are  bright  with  loving  deeds, 

And  some  to  earth  us  bind. 

By  every  breath  the  motes  of  good 

Or  evil  thoughts  are  blown ; 
Again  are  gathered  up  by  love, 

And  by  the  sun  are  shown. 

A  bridge  to  heaven  we  can  build 

By  loving  deeds  and  just, — 
'T  is  made  of  brilliant  motes,  this  bridge — 

E'en  though  the  motes  be  dust. 

For  every  kind  and  loving  thought 

Is  ray  of  sunlight  bright, 
Which  shows  the  smallest  act  of  ours, 

As  stars  light  darkest  night. 


FAME 

O  Fame !    A  bubble  on  life's  wave, 
'T  is  tossed  about,  a  worthless  thing ; 

The  bubble  breaks — 't  is  lost  for  aye, 
But  leaves  on  heart  a  poignant  sting. 

It  flashes  out  athwart  the  sky, 
It  raises  hope  in  feverish  brain, 

Then  falls  to  earth  a  useless  thing. 
You  grasp  at  it,  but  all  in  vain. 

You  cut  your  name  on  granite  block ; 

As  ages  come  and  pass  away, 
Disintegrated  is  the  stone, 

For  all  in  nature  must  decay. 

The  rock  in  time  will  be  but  sand, 

The  books  you  write  will  be  but  dust, 

For  fame  is  but  a  passing  thought, 

Then,  man,  in  fame  put  not  your  trust. 


47 


FAME 

If  fame  lives  not;  what  then,  O  man, 

^Lives  on,  as  ages  come  and  go? 
'T  is  truth  spread  broadcast  in  the  land ; 

Then  only  truth  should  man  bestow. 

The  light  of  truth  will  never  dim, 
On  darkened  souls  its  rays  will  fall, 

Diffusing  joy,  dispelling  gloom; 

Then  truth,  not  fame,  should  lives  enthral, 


THE    GRIND    OF    LIFE 

The  friction  and  grind  of  this  life — 
Must  ever  the  miller  grind  on? 

Will  never  the  heavy  wheel  stop? 
Will  never  life's  battles  be  won  ? 

What  grist  is  put  into  the  mill? 

What  grain  have  we  garnered  and  kept? 
If  harvest  is  ruined  by  blight, 

How  many  have  sorrowed  and  wept? 

The  mills  of  the  gods  grind  so  slow, 
But  grind  they  exceedingly  small, 

For  grind  they  out  all  of  our  deeds, 
And  some  are  as  bitterest  gall. 

Oh,  who  is  the  miller  that  grinds  ? 

Is  the  mill  run  by  friends  or  by  foes  ? 
It  often  is  run  by  our  tears ; 

The  grist  is  oft  spoiled  by  our  woes. 


49 


THE   GRIND   OF   LIFE 

Doth  never  the  water  run  dry  ? 

Is  always  the  mill  at  its  best? 
Doth  never  machinery  stop? 

Doth  never  the  miller  need  rest? 

The  miller  must  soon  take  his  rest, 
For  all  of  the  spokes  in  the  wheel 

Are  broken  or  bent  by  strong  weight, 
Or  crushed  'neath  oppression's  firm  heel. 

Soon  the  grist  will  be  ground  and  all  packed. 
The  chaff  will  be  thrown  to  the  wind ; 

The  mill  will  be  shut  and  well  locked. 
Life's  grist  never  more  will  we  grind. 


LIFE'S    DRAMA 

In  drama  of  life,  we  actors  are, — 
Take  heed  that  we  play  our  part  well, 

Our  lines  study  hard,  rehearse  them  oft, 
And  watch  for  the  ringing  of  bell. 

The  clown  is  needed  as  much  as  the  star ; 

The  play  is  not  perfect  'thout  each. 
For  sunshine  and  shadow  is  all  life, 

And  shadows  far  out  ever  reach. 

We  linger  too  long  in  shadows  dark, 
When  sunshine  is  not  far  away, 

Too  oft  we  shed  tears,  when  laugh  we  might, 
Of  work  we  might  often  make  play. 

The  curtain  ring  down ;  extinguish  the  lights, 
Now,  actors,  go  home  to  your  rest — 

The  play  is  finished,  the  curtain  is  down, 
The  clown  is  now  through  with  his  jest. 


WHAT    IS    GOD'S    BEST     GIFT    TO,  MAN? 

?T  is  asked  by  sage,  't  is  asked  by  scholar, 
What  gift  is  best  which  God  gave  man  ? 

Is 't  life  or  wealth  or  highest  honor? 
A  problem  this  since  the  world  began. 

We  born  are  into  earth  conditions — 
Life  have  not  sought,  it  do  not  seek, 

No  power  have  we  to  change  the  fiat, 
Though  wish  be  strong,  we  are  too  weak. 

Bowed  down  are  we  by  limitations — 

Inherit  we  our  foe  disease, 
And  birth  seems  almost  accidental, 

Forefathers  sought  not  us  to  please. 

Then,  under  all  these  grave  conditions, 
Were  we  obliged  to  live  e'er  on, 

'T  would  be  to  us  most  dire  injustice, 
Soul's  victories  not  on  earth  are  won. 


WHAT    IS    GOD'S    BEST    GIFT   TO    MAN? 

But  God  well  loves  His  erring  children ; 

He  knows  their  errors  came  with  breath, 
So  He,  with  never-failing  wisdom, 

Bequeathed  to  man  the  gift  of  death. 

Best  gift  of  all  that  He  hath  given- 
God's  benediction  from  on  high, 

A  sleep  it  is,  with  joyful  waking; 
No  child  of  earth  should  fear  to  die. 

Of  earthly  joys  so  soon  we  weary; 

So  soon  we  falter  on  our  way, 
Our  hearts  seem  every  day  to  weaken— 

We  welcome  death — e'en  for  it  pray. 


53 


LOVE'S    GUIDE-BOARD 

Upon  the  roadway  of  my  life, 

A  guide-board  I  will  leave  of  love, 
So  those  who  follow  in  my  steps 

May  guided  be  to  hills  above, 
To  sun-tipped  hills  above  the  clouds — 

Above,  beyond  this  vale  of  woe ; 
This  guide-board  high  as  heaven  shall  be, 

Illumed  it  is  by  Love's  bright  bow. 

The  path  beneath  is  strewn  with  hopes — 

With  broken  hearts,  with  broken  vows ; 
But  on  this  guide-board  writ  is  love, 

And  down  to  Love  mankind  aye  bows. 
The  guide-board  forms  a  cross  by  road — 

Symbolic  this  of  all  Love's  way. 
We  often  weep  beneath  Love's  cross, 

But  when  she  calls  we  her  obey. 


54 


LOVE'S    GUIDE-BOARD 

Though  bruised  and  bleeding  are  our  feet, 

Though  weary  is  the  way  we  tread, 
Though  storms  of  sorrow  on  us  fall, 

We  onward  press  where  Love  hath  led. 
So  I  will  love,  will  never  hate, — 

Surrounded  though  I  be  by  sin, 
I  '11  struggle  up  the  path  to  light, 

Content  to  tread  where  Love  hath  been. 


55 


FORT    DESPAIR 


Is  garrisoned  this  fort  with  troops 
All  honest,  courageous,  and  true? 

Provisioned  is  it  for  a  siege? 

And  all  of  its  guns  strong  and  new  ? 


For  siege  I  shall  lay  to  this  fort, 
Besiege  it  with  men  strong  and  brave, 

Who  never  will  give  up  their  arms, 
Who  neither  fear  death  nor  the  grave. 

We  've  planned  for  this  siege  with  much  skill, 
The  men  have  been  trained  for  the  fight ; 

They  '11  never  give  up,  nor  retreat, 

They  know  they  are  fighting  for  right. 

The  fort  must  be  razed  to  the  ground ; 

Too  many  imprisoned  are  there — 
Too  many  hearts  broken  and  crushed 

In  fort  of  the  Giant  Despair. 


FORT    DESPAIR 


Our  battering-rams  are  of  love , 
The  powder  and  shells  are  of  joy, 

Provisioned  we  are  with  sweet  peace ; 
Our  currency  hath  no  alloy. 

Our  army  will  never  need  rest, 
Our  soldiers  will  never  need  sleep, 

They  always  are  happy  and  fresh, 
And  never  know  misery  deep. 

They  've  courage  and  strength  for  the  work, 
They  never  will  show  flag  of  truce. 

Determined  are  they  to  take  fort, 
Will  take  it  by  fighting  or  ruse. 

The  flag  of  the  fort  will  soon  fall, 
The  inmates  be  rescued  from  death. 

The  fort  of  Despair  cannot  stand, 

Though  take  we  the  barracks  by  stealth. 


57 


FORT    DESPAIR 


A  fort  we  will  build  in  its  place, — 
Forever  and  aye  will  it  stand. 

We  '11  build  of  the  hopes  of  mankind, 
Despair  no  more  known  in  the  land. 

Despair  is  too  weak  for  our  race 
And  never  its  flag  will  more  float 

On  turrets  so  high,  nor  to  breeze, 
And  Demon  Despair  will  not  gloat 

O'er  broken  and  poor  wasted  lives, 
O'er  sorrows  too  deep  e'er  to  tell. 

Our  banner  of  peace  shall  now  float; 
Despair  sound  no  more  its  dread  knell. 


'AM    I    MY    BROTHER'S    KEEPER?' 

Am  I  my  brother's  keeper? 

Responsible  am  I 
For  my  weak  brother's  life-work  ? 

I  see  no  reason  why. 
We  are  free  moral  agents — 

Our  own  work  must  be  done ; 
Must  fight  life's  hardest  battles, 

E'er  victory  can  be  won. 

Must  guard  our  own  dear  fireside ; 

Keep  watch  o'er  our  own  fold, 
Lest  flock  should  stray  and  wander 

And  perish  lambs  from  cold. 
By  self  must  now  be  builded 

A  wall  before  my  door. 
If  I  do  well  my  own  work, 

No  time  have  I  for  more. 


59 


AM    I    MY    BROTHER'S    KEEPER? 

But,  can  ye  not,  my  brother, 

One  stone  put  into  place, 
To  help  your  weaker  brother  . 

Life's  battles  hard  to  face  ? 
His  step  is  slow  and  halting, 

His  head  bowed  down  in  grief, 
He  stumbles  and  he  falters, — 

Wilt  thou  not  give  relief? 

Though  not  thy  brother's  keeper, 

Canst  thou  not  be  his  friend? 
And  pity  his  transgressions, 

And  help  to  him  aye  lend  ? 
Thus  you  are  ever  laying 

Foundation   strong,   secure, — 
Thus  you  a  wall  are  building 

That  ever  will  endure. 


60 


SPACE 

On  wings  of  light,  now  soar  away 

Above,  beyond  the  stars, 
Unbounded  space   is  everywhere; 

No  cloud  thy  vision  mars. 

The  finite  mind  can  never  grasp 
Infinitude  of  space, — 

There  is  no  boundary-line  to  it- 
Canst  man  on  parchment  trace 

All  worlds,  all  suns,  all  planets  grand, 

Or  know  the  Power  that  walls, 
That  reigns  supreme ;  that  never  fails, 

That  all  his  being  thrills  ? 

Unbounded  space.    Canst  grasp  the  thought? 

O  man  !  well  mayst  thou  shrink  ! 
Look  up,  look  out, — why  art  thou  blind  ? 

Of  space  thou  darest  not  think. 


61 


SHIPWRECKED 

We  're  tossed  upon  the  Sea  of  Life, 

And  stranded  on  its  shore, 
We  're  shipwrecked  by  the  winds  that  blow, 

That  blow  for  evermore. 
The  waves  of  sorrow  and  of  grief 

Have  lashed  our  ship  and  swept  its  decks, 
Dismantled  are  its  masts  for  aye, 

The  shore-line  hidden  is  by  wrecks 
Of  mislaid  plans,  of  misplaced  love, 

Engulfed  is  every  hope, 
Fiends  seem  to  hover  round  our  path, 

In  darkness  we  must  grope, 
When  lo !  a  light  is  seen  ahead, 

Sweet  hope  fills  heart  once  more, 
The  Pilot,  God,  sees  our  distress. 

And  guides  us  to  the  shore. 


62 


TRUTH'S    TORCH 

Bearers  of  Truth's  torch  be  ever — 

Wave  it  over  every  land, 
Bear  it  to  remotest  regions, 

Hold  it  ever  as  a  wand. 

Light  the  torch  with  wisdom  always, 

Ever  keep  the  torch  ablaze ; 
Feed  it  ever  with  Love's  message, 

Fit.  it  then  for  angel's  gaze. 

Faith  is   strong,  but  Truth  is  mighty, 
And  should  ever  hold  full  sway. 

Truth  will  bear  the  brightest  search-light, 
And  ought  ever  with  us  stay. 

For  not  sand  is  Truth's  foundation; 

It  is  built  upon  a  rock, 
It  hath  stood  throughout  the  ages, 

And  can  bear  the  strongest  shock. 


TRUTH'S   TORCH 

Chains  of  error  and  strong  shackles 
Ne'er  can  bind  the  Truth  to  earth, 

It  will  rise  above  conditions; 

Every  day  hath  Truth  new  birth. 

Of  the  Truth  then  be  ye  bearers — 
Never  let  its  light  grow  dim, 

Feed  it  e'er  with  love  and  wisdom, 
Banish  far  deceit  so  grim. 

Dark  should  torch  of  Truth  be  never, 
For  it  burns  with  love  divine. 

Light  it  should  all  people,  nations, 
In  our  hearts  should  be  its  shrine. 


"A    LAW    UNTO    THYSELF" 

Be  to  thyself  a  perfect  law, 

Be  guided  by  thy  soul, 
Xot  master  make  of  any  man, 

Thy  name  must  thou  enroll 

Upon  the  archives  of  thy  land. 

As  monarch  of  thyself, 
As  free  as  bird  thy  spirit  be, 

Nor  bow  ye  down  to  pelf. 

Go  win  a  place  of  honor  high, 
And  hold  it  fast  when  won, 

Let  justice  dwell  within  thy  heart. 
Be  written  thereupon. 

And  on  the  tablets  of  thy  life- 
Erased  they  ne'er  will  be  ; 

As  every  battle  for  the  right, 
Is  for  eternity. 


"A    LAW    UNTO    THYSELF" 

There  's  naught  on  earth  so  noble,  grand, 

As  man  with  self-respect. 
He  bows  not  down  beneath  a  yoke, 

But  ever  stands  erect. 

He  knows  that  freedom  is  his  right, 

And  only  bows  to  laws 
Of  nature,  and  of  nature's  God ; 

With  these  he  never  wars. 

Thy  heritage,  O  noble  man! 

Was  given  thee  by  God. 
Created  thee,  for  noble  work — 

With  wisdom  thou  art  shod. 

Then  bear  each  cross  that  comes  to  thee, 
Let  nothing  crush  thee  down; 

Too  heavy  if  the  cross  may  seem, 
Above,  you  see  your  crown. 

And  when  the  cross  shall  lifted  be, 
You'll  stand,  O  man!  erect, 

A  law  unto  thyself  for  aye, 
This  law  did  God  elect. 


66 


HOME 

A  perfect  home  is  heaven's  door, 

Its  built  of  loving  deeds, 
No  angry  frown  nor  biting  word 

Will  sow  discordant  seeds. 

No  selfish  wish  nor  cruel  act, 

Will  in  this  home  be  found. 
No  thought  of  self  will  have  a  place, 

For  each  to  each  is  bound 
By  ties  of  love  so  pure  indeed, 

So  helpful,  so  serene ; 
That  door  seems  portal  of  high  heav'n, 

Rich  treasures  there  are  seen. 

Oh!  joyous  home,  when  built  of  love — 

Foundation  of  esteem. 
The  walls  are  raised  from  happiness, 

With  love  the  windows  gleam. 
This  home  will  stand  for  aye  on  earth 

And  through  eternity, 
For  God  and  angels  hold  the  lease — 

The  rent  is  sanctitv. 


THE    PEACE    THAT    PASSETH    UNDER 
STANDING 

Away  from  turmoil  and  from  strife — 

At  peace  with  all. 
A  light  celestial  fills  my  heart ; 

On  God  I  call. 

A  silver  thread  runs  through  my  life — 

So  bright  it  is ; 
Not  tarnished  it  by  gloom  nor  hate, 

My  soul  is-  His. 

Sweet  flowers  of  love  with  joy  I  cull 

From  every  grief; 
Though  watered  by  my  tears,  I  know 

Will  come  relief. 

The  sun  doth  shine  on  mountain  high, 

Though  dark  the  vale. 
Above  the  clouds  I  '11  live  for  aye, 

Will  not  bewail. 


68 


THE  PEACE  THAT  PASSETH  UNDERSTANDING 

Though  cares  and  sorrows  e'er  must  come, 

Though  heart  be  rent, 
I  know  that  God  will  give  me  strength, 

When  mine  is  spent. 

I  '11  scatter  sunshine  everywhere, 

Make  glad  some  heart; 
Dispelling  gloom,  thus  causing  smiles 

To  do  their  part. 

When  death  shall  come,  as  come  it  will, 

No  dread  have  I. 
In  peace  I'll  close  my  eyes  to  earth, 

Nor  fear  to  die. 

I  have  a  "home  not  made  by  hands," — 

Death  gives  the  lease. 
I  Ve  paid  the  rent  in  loving  deeds, 

Thus  gaining  peace. 


FREE    MORAL   AGENTS    WE 

Born  into  earth  conditions, 

Free  moral  agents  are. 
Mistakes  we  make  forever, 

Which  will  in  life  debar 
Us  often  from  rare  pleasures, 

And  often  lead  to  sin. 
Yet  thank  we  God  for  freedom, 

For  right  at  last  will  win. 

We  oft  are  made  unhappy 

Through  ignorance  of  law, 
Which  we  do  all  break  daily, 

Which  makes  of  life  e'er  war. 
We  helped  are  in  our  life  work, 

But  watchful  we  must  be, 
And  read  we  well  Life's  lessons, 

And  Nature's  laws  keep  we. 


70 


FREE   MORAL   AGENTS    WE 


Though  struggle  we  most  bravely, 

We  never  seem  to  learn 
To  govern  Earth's  strong  forces ; 

And  hearts  will  ever  yearn 
To  peer  the  future  into, 

To  see  what  is  beyond — 
Are  ever,  ever  seeking, 

To  know  what  is  the  bond 

Twixt  matter,  soul,  and  spirit, 

From  whence  all  life  hath  sprung. 
When  they  are  rent  in  sunder, 

Hath  soul  and  spirit  tongue 
To  sing  the  song  of  ages, 

And  bring  to  all  mankind, 
The  mystery  of  creation, 

And  soul  to  spirit  bind? 


FREE    MORAL    AGENTS    WE 


From  whence  came  man,  and  wherefore? 

And  hence  where  goeth  he  ? 
Or  sleepeth  he  forever 

Through  all  eternity? 
Can  man  these  questions  answer 

Of  matter,  spirit,  soul? 
Is  governed  he  by  forces, 

Above,  beyond  control? 

If  so,  what  is  man's  freedom? 

He  cannot  of  it  boast. 
If  struggling  ever  blindly 

In  warfare  with  a  host 
Of  forces  which  will  govern 

His  every  act  and  thought, 
Is   man   free   moral   agent, 

And  what  by  him  is  wrought? 


NO    LIMIT 

To  thought  there  is  no  limit, 

To  life  there  is  no  end, 
To  all  of  Nature's  forces 

Mankind  must  ever  bend. 

To  space  there  is  no  limit, 

Above,  about,  around 
Is  rilled  with  life  all  glorious ; 

Space  teems  with  life  and  sound. 

No  limit  to  creation, 

It  ever  onward  goes. 
No  limit  to  Infinity ; 

E'er  into  souls  it  flows. 

No  limit  to  progression ; 

Bequeathed  it  was  to  man — 
A  thought  from  God  Almighty, 

Before  the  world  began. 


73 


NO   LIMIT 

And  God,  the  great  Creator 

Of  order,  life,  and  soul, 
Had  not  beginning  ever, 

He  is  of  life  the  whole. 

No  limit  to  intelligence ; 

Its  power  who  ever  knows  ? 
All   Nature  teems  with  knowledge, 

And  to  all  things  it  flows. 

No  limit  hath  the  future — 

No  limit  had  the  past. 
For  Nature  and  its  forces 

In  mold  was  never  cast. 

She  fights  with  us  life's  battles — 
Helps  us  to  win  the  strife, 

And  better  our  conditions, 
For  conflict  is  all  life. 

Almighty  are  the  forces 
Which  rush  so  madly  on, 

They  all  fulfill  God's  mandates ; 
By  them  is  Cosmos  won. 


74 


SOUL   AND    SPIRIT 

Are  soul  and  spirit  one? 

I  ask  with  reverence  deep. 
What  part  of  man  their  home? 

Do  they  e'er  rest  or  sleep? 

The  spirit  guides  the  soul; 

The  soul  doth  spirit  teach 
Its  work  while  here  on  earth; 

Joined  ever  each  to  each. 

The  soul  immortal  is, 
The  spirit  lives  for  aye. 

They  dwell  e'er  side  by  side, 
In  harmony  alway. 

The  spirit,  body,  soul, 
Form  Trinity  Divine. 

The  soul  the  body  builds, 
The  spirit  lights  the  shrine. 


75 


'A  GRAIN  OF  SAND  CAN  DEFY  ALL  THE 
GODS  " 

Creating  but  one  grain  of  sand — 

Creating  but  one  earth, 
Creating  but  one  glorious  sun, 

And  causing  but  one  birth, 
Takes  years  so  many ; — lose  must  we 

The  power  to  count  or  think, 
Our  brain  seems  dazed,  and  all  too  weak — 

We  from  the  thought  must  shrink. 

The  earth  a  thought  was  from  one  God — 

A  tiny  seed  this  thought ; 
Was  planted  in  immensity — 

In  God,  the  seed  was  wrought, 
Forever  God  is  sowing  seeds, 

Creating  worlds  for  aye, 
And  tossing  them  far  into  space ; 

Yet  they  His  will  obey. 


Xv    ••'• 

/  OF  THE    ^ 

\  DIVERSITY 

X^  -     Or  / 

A  GRAIN  OF  SAND  CAN  DEFY  ALL  THE  GODS  " 

Dost  know  where  space  begins  or  ends  ? 

Or  what  is  grain  of  sand? 
''Canst  thou,  by  searching,  find  out  God?" 

Though  thou  art  in  His  hand. 
No  power  hast  thou  within  thyself. 

Thou  art  but  little  more 
Than  grain  of  sand  or  tiny  wave 

Thrown  up  on  Life's  bleak  shore. 

O  man  !     O  world  !     O  grain  of  sand  ! 

From  what  hast  thou  been  wrought? 
Wilt  thou  dissolve,  be  lost  in  space? 

In  future  what  thy  lot? 
Stupendous  thought !    We  cannot  grasp, 

Nor  it  one  moment  keep. 
WTe  shipwrecked  are  upon  Life's  shoals — 

Naught  left  us  but  to  weep. 


77 


NO     REASON     HAVE     WE    TO     COMPLAIN 

If  in  our  short  life,  while  here  on  earth, 
There  's  less  of  bright  sunshine  than  rain. 

The  brightness  we  '11  take  with  thankfulness ; 
No  reason  have  we  to  complain. 

If  sorrow  and  grief  seems  now  our  lot, 

Unhappiness  ever,  and  pain, 
Our  lot  we  must  bear,  and  try  to  smile ; 

No  reason  have  we  to  complain. 

Take  wings  should  our  wealth  and  fly  away, 
And  burdens  most  hard  on  us  lain, 

We  ever  must  think  of  others'  woes ; 
No  reason  have  we  to  complain. 

My  trusted  dear  friends — where  are  they  now  ? 

I  search  for  them  ever  in  vain; 
Alone  though  I  'm  left  battling  with  life, 

No  reason  have  I  to  complain. 


NO    REASON    HAVE   WE    TO    COMPLAIN 

The  burdens  of  life  I  '11  take  up  now, 
But  never  my  heart  will  they  stain. 

If  sorrows  of  earth  fit  me  for  heaven, 
No  reason  have  I  to  complain. 


79 


THE    CHAIN    OF    LIFE    IS    PERFECT 

Oh,  take  this  pansy  blossom, 

And  study  well  its  face; 
Dost  thou  not  feel  its  power? 

Canst  thou  not  sense  a  trace 
Of  spirit  life  all  joyous? 

Canst  thou  not  feel  the  soul, — 
The  soul  that  is  within  it, — 

The  power  which  doth  control  ? 

All  life  hath  joy  in  living, 

And  soul  may  be  its  dower. 
You  wound  the  heart  of  parent 

When  pluck  you  tiny  flower. 
The  wound  is  healed  by  nature, 

Not  broken  is  a  heart. 
The  flower  may  grace  your  corsage, 

One  moment  do  its  part, — 


80 


THE    CHAIN    OF    LIFE    IS    PERFECT 


Then  fade  perhaps  in  anguish, 

Its  home  is  not  your  breast, 
'T  was  plucked  by  hand  most   ruthless 

Its  mother's  home  was  best. 
A  link  doth  bind  all  nature. 

Who  knoweth  its  strong  power  ? 
Life  closely  is  united, 

E'en  man  to  smallest  flower. 

O'er  all  is  God  the  Father, 

Each  link  helps  form  the  chain, 
"Not  even  sparrow  falleth," 

Xor  flower  bloom  in  vain. 
In  earth-life  or  in  heaven 

We  never  can  be  free ; 
The  chain  cannot  be  broken 

Through  all  eternity. 


81 


THE    CHAIN    OF   LIFE    IS    PERFECT 


O  man  !   take  home  this  lesson  ; 

Great  truths  in  it  you'll  find. 
You  're  bound  by  laws  the  strongest 

They  ever  will  you  bind. 
For  God  the  chain  hath  welded  ;* 

Upon  it  placed  His  seal. 
Each  link  of  chain  is  endless, 

And  joined  are,  for  man's  weal. 


82 


LOVE'S    PLEA 

Why  wilt  thou  leave  me,  O  my  love? 

Abide  with  me,  abide  with  me, 
E'en  shouldst  thou  gain  bright  realms  above, 

E'en  though  we  meet  by  crystal  sea. 

I  want  thee  now,  I  love  thee  so. 

Oh,  stay  with  me!     Oh,  stay  with  me! 
Dear  sweetheart,  leave  me  not,  I  pray. 

Thou  must  not  die  !   It  cannot  be  ! 

Our  love  had  birth  in  Paradise, 
And  pure  it  is,  all  free  from  guile ; 

No  taint  hath  it  of  earthly  vice, 
And  naught  in  it  which  doth  defile. 

Abide  with  me  !   Abide  with  me ! 

My  love,  my  bride,  why  wilt  thou  go? 
Though  Death  doth  woo  and  marry  thee, 

It  must  thee  grieve  to  see  my  woe. 

I  know  thou  art  too  pure  for  earth, 

That  "Death  doth  love  a  shining  mark." 

In  heaven  again  thou  wilt  have  birth, 
But  I  am  left  in  world  so  dark. 


"THE  SPIRIT  OF  TRUTH  WILL  GUIDE  YOU 
INTO    ALL    TRUTH" 

"The  spirit  of  Truth  will  e'er  guide  you," — 

Will  guide  you  forever  and  aye, 
If  follow  you  will  in  her  footsteps, 

And  all  of  her  teachings  obey. 

In  Truth  you  will  never  find  error, — 

No  obstacle  there  you  will  meet. 
Transgressing  her  laws,  you  will  stumble ; 

All  error  doth  fall  at  her  feet. 

The  spirit  of  Truth  is  ennobling, — 

Her  presence  is  ever  most  pure. 
She  never  the  law  has  offended ; 

Her  precepts  forever  endure. 

Sweet  Truth  is  a  queen  proud  and  mighty — 

Her  throne  is  in  heaven  above. 
From  East  to  far  West  is  her  empire ; 

Her  scepter  is  ever  pure  love. 


"  THE  SPIRIT  OF  TRUTH  WILL  GUIDE  YOU " 

•  Bow  down  then  to  Truth,  all  the  nations, 

And  tribute  to  her  ever  bring ; 
Lay  down  all  your  arms  in  submission, 
Sweet  anthems  to  Truth  ever   sing. 


REINCARNATION 

How  strangely  familiar  all  that  I  see, 

The  swift-running  brook,  the  wide-spreading  tree ; 

The  songs  of  the  birds  which  now  I  adore 

I  feel  I  have  heard  in  ages  before. 

Canst  be  that  I  've  lived  on  earth  in  the  past  ? 
With  thought  so  stupendous  stand  I  aghast. 
These  scenes  are  not  new,  nor  either  my  life, 
With  all  of  its  struggles,  all  of  its  strife. 

If  from  the  dim  past  I  Ve  come  to  this  earth — 
And  brought  nothing  new,  what  use  is  rebirth  ? 
Past  memories  haunt  me,  few  of  them  sweet, 
As  walking  this  earth  again  I  them  meet. 

If  lived  I  in  past,  had  life  before  this, — 
A  failure  it  was,  with  little  of  bliss. 
And  shall  I   e'er  travel,   ever  and  on, 
In  ages  to  come,  as  in  ages  long  gone  ? 


86 


REINCARNATION 

0  spare  me,  my  God !   I  cannot  this  bear — 
The  thought  is  appalling !   I  will  not  e'en  dare 
To  hold  this  dark  dream ;  it  burdens  my  soul 
To  think  that  this  earth  shall  again  be  my  goal. 

What  good  was  past  life  if  nothing  was  wrought? 
Grand  lessons  in  past  should  I  have  been  taught. 
The  future  what  boots  it,  living  e'er  on, 
If  past  hath  not  helped  me,  battles  been  won. 

If  future  hath  nothing  better  than  past, 

1  'm  ready  for  death ;  aside  I  will  cast 

This  strong  endless  chain  which  never  will  break, 
So  binding  its  links,  no  new  ones  we  make. 

E'er  coming  and  going — never  at  rest, — 
E'er  struggling  for  life, — is  this  our  behest  ? 
E'er  fighting  hard  battles,  ever  at  war,— 
Conditions  so  hard, — is  this  a  just  law? 

Forever  and  aye  no  rest  for  my  soul, 
Struggling  e'er  on,  ne'er  reaching  my  goal. 
I  cannot  believe  this,  though  oft  in  my  sleep, 
For  seeming  past  griefs,  I  bitterly  weep. 


REINCARNATION 

If  dreary  grim  phantom  ever  my  past, — 
A  will-o'-the-wisp  which  o'er  me  was  cast, — 
For  future  bright  life  I  never  can  hope ; 
With  problem  so  drear  I  wish  not  to  cope. 

I  wish  to  go  on,  retrace  ne'er  my  steps. 
E'er  rising,  progressing  out  of  the  depths, 
The  stars  I  will  soar  to,  high  is  my  goal ; 
E'er  onward  for  aye  the  race  of  my  soul. 

I  ask  not  to  tarry,  nor  rest  by  the  way ; 
I  'm  working  for  soul-growth  ever  and  aye. 
At  last  I  will  gain  my  spirit's  fond  dream ; 
I  soar  e'en  to  heaven — of  it  catch  a  gleam. 

And  God  I  will  reach, — His  kingdom  my  home— 
And  when   I   shall  gain   the  apex,   His   dome, 
I  '11  come  not  to  earth.     Absorbed  in  His  love, 
Contented  I  '11  be ;  and  happy  above. 


88 


LOST    ENDEAVOR 

We  try  to  do  a  kindness, 

To  make  some  poor  heart  glad ; 

To  do  our  every  duty — 
Give  joy  to  some  life  sad. 

We  try  to  do  our  life-work, 

Whatever  it  may  be. 
Though  blindly  press  we  forward, 

Though  falling  ever  we. 

In  path  are  many  pitfalls, 
And  brambles  by  the  way ; 

Our  feet  are  bruised  and  bleeding- 
For  rest  we  ever  pray. 

We  struggle  onward,  onward, 
Endeavoring  to  do  right ; 

But  growing  weaker  daily, 
We  fail  to  gain  the  light. 


LOST    ENDEAVOR 

Too  heavy  are  our  burdens ; 

We  sink  beneath  the  cross. 
'T  is  ever  Lost  Endeavor, — 

Too  weak  are  we  to  cross 

The  bridge  that  is  "be  fore  us, 
Though  knowing  well  do  we 

There  's  rest  across  the  river, — 
Bright  sunlight  we  can  see. 

Life's  billows  now  wash  o'er  us, 
No  hand  is  near  to  save. 

Endeavor  is  our  coffin, 
Endeavor  is  our  grave. 


90 


LITTLE    THINGS 

It  is  a  pansy  blossom, — 

'Tis  but  a  little  flower. 
It  is  a  breath  of  fragrance, 

Which  seems  from  heav'n  to  shower. 

It  is  a  little  kindness, — 

It  cheers  us  on  our  way. 
'T  is  but  a  gentle  welcome — 

It  happy  makes  our  stay. 

It  is  a  little  tear-drop, 

So  quickly  wiped  away ; 
We  may  not  know  what  caused  it, 

But  we  may  it  allay. 

It  is  a  peal  of  laughter, — 
Yet  grief  lurks  in  the  heart. 

Though  from  us  deeply  hidden, 
It  is  of  life  chief  part. 


LITTLE    THINGS 


'T  is  but  a  little  token, — 
But  pure  the  love  that  gave ; 

It  is  to  us  a  mascot ; 
From  evil  it  will  save. 

It  is  a  little  cottage, — 

But  Love  peeps  in  at  door, 

And  lights  up  all  the  corners 
And  covers  naked  floor. 

It  is  a  little  shadow, — 
It  darkens  all  the  room. 

It  is  an  evil  presence, 

Which  fills  all  space  with  gloom. 

It  is  a  little  slander, — 

It  travels  ever  on  ; 
By  it  a  heart  is  broken, 

All  peace  forever  gone. 


92 


LITTLE    THINGS 


It  is  a  word  so  gentle 

That  Vice  stops  on  its  way 

And  listens  to  its  pleading, 
And  tarries  e'en  to  pray. 

It  is  a  little  tombstone 

That  stands  at  head  of  mound 
Beneath  the  pure  white  marble, 

Beneath  the  cold,  cold  ground 

There  is  a  little  coffin; 

In  it  a  child  doth  sleep ; 
In  it  all  hope  is  buried. 

From  joy,  we  tears  must  reap. 

T  is  but  a  rose  most  fragrant, 
In  humble  garden  born, 

But  clothed  it  is  with  splendor, 
And  hidden  is  the  thorn. 


93 


LITTLE    THINGS 


From  little  flowers  most  humble 
The  bee  doth  gather  sweet. 

From  little  things  most  lowly 
The  purest  joys  we  meet. 

Then  scorn  ye  not  the  little  things, 
For  life  is  made  from  them. 

T  is  not  the  largest  diamond 
That  is  the  purest  gem. 


94 


THE    MUMMY'S    APPEAL 

I  lived  in  a  long-gone  century, 
I  lived  and  I  loved  as  mankind ; 

I  died,  was  embalmed  by  retainers, 
In  finest  white  linen  entwined. 

I  slept  in  the  land  of  ancestors, 
Entombed  in  sarcophagus  grand  ; 

To-day  should  be  there  but  for  vandals, 
But  now  on  my  brow  is  a  brand 

Of  shame,  where  once  diadem  rested, 
A  crown  set  with  jewels  most  rare; 

My  robes  were  encrusted  with  diamonds, 
And  rubies  entwined  in  my  hair. 

My  lineal  descent  was  from  monarchs, 
And  serfs  ever  bowed  at  my  feet ; 

None  dared  to  dispute  my  commanding, 
And  kings  with  respect  did  me  greet. 


95 


THE    MUMMY'S    APPEAL 


My  word  was  a  law  unto  nations, 

And  my  kingdom  was  sought  by  the  great ; 
My  consort  bowed  down  in  submission, 

And  humbly  e'er  on  me  did  wait. 

But  now  how  the  mighty  hath  fallen ! 

I  'm  gazed  at  by  vulgar  and  low. 
Respect  I  have  not,  but  derision ; 

In  truth,   I   am  now  but  a  show. 

Oh,  carry  me  back  to  old  Egypt ! 

I  'd  rest  now  in  tomb  they  me  gave, 
Or  if  that  dear  boon  be  denied  me, 

Content  could  I  lie  in  a  grave. 

Though  lowly,  from  gaze  I'd  be  hidden— 

From  gaze  of  a  curious  crowd. 
My  person  in  past  was  most  sacred 

Oh  !  now  from  all  eyes  me  enshroud. 


96 


THE    MUMMY'S    APPEAL 


Once  noble,  I  now  am  dishonored ; 

But  e'en  though  my  spirit  hath  fled 
From  body  that  once  was  so  reverenced, 

It  still  can  look  down  on  its  bed, 

And  see  the  rude  populace  gazing 
With  curious  eyes,  and  strange  words, 

Derisively  pointing  at  mummy, 

Whose  shroud  is  e'en  sacred  that  girds. 

Oh,  friends,  take  me  back  to  old  Egypt ! 

In  home  once  so  dear  let  me  rest. 
I  pray  that  ne'ermore  will  the  vandal 

In  tomb  of  a  mummy  make  quest. 


97 


LIFE'S    CHAIN 

An  endless  chain  is  life — 
Its  links  were  forged  above. 

Our  destiny  is  fixed, 

Though  ruled  are  we  by  love. 

No  link  can  weakened  be 

And  leave  the  chain  as  strong ; 

No  deed  however  kind 
Can  ever  right  a  wrong. 

The  impress  of  a  deed 

Can  ne'er  be  washed  away ; 

If  act  be  good  or  ill, 

It  will  with  us  e'er  stay, — 

Will  ever  mar  our  lives, 
Or  give  us  peace  and  joy, 

Will  crown  our  lives  with  flowers. 
Or  fill  them  with  allov. 


LIFE'S    CHAIN 

O  life,  with  all  its  tears ! 

O  life,  with  all  its  pain ! 
Though  struggling  ever  on, 

We  cannot  break  the  chain 

That  holds  and  welds  all  life, 
That  holds  and  binds  each  one, 

Uniting  life  to  life, 

E'en  though  the  tie  we  shun. 

We  try  to  hide  mistakes, 

But  weakened  is  life's  chain, 

Nor  trusted  can  be  link 

Which  shows  a  mark  or  stain 

Of  rust  or  inborn  sin. 

Corroded  though  by  tears, 
The  chain  will  weakened  be 

And  break  in  after  years. 


99 


PICTURES    ON    MEMORY'S    WALL 

By  the  fireside  sat  my  mother 

With  her  knitting-work  in  hands. 

In  and  out  the  needles  dancing, 

Seeming  they  love's  tireless  wands. 

As  she  worked  she  sang  some  ditty, 
Or  she  crooned  a  cradle  rhyme. 

Painted  was  this  sweet  home  picture 
On  the  wall  in  long-gone  time. 

Turning  over  memory's  tablets, 

Many  pictures  fair  I  see ; 
Also  shadows  in  the  distance 

Time,  the  artist,  shows  to  me. 

First,  my  mother  by  the  fireside. 

Seeing  it  I  often  weep. 
On  my  heart  is  picture  painted, 

And  with  love  I  it  shall  keep. 


100 


PICTURES    ON    MEMORY'S    WALL 

Photographed  by  tears,   another,— 
Patient  mother — work  all  done — 

Heard  these  words — "Thou  faithful  servant' 
Come,  sweet  soul,  to  rest  you  've  won. 

O  the  picture  of  my  mother ! 

On  its  surface  not  one  stain. 
When  all  else  on  earth  has  vanished. 

Mother's  picture  will  remain. 


TOI 


THE    COQUETTE    FLOWER 

To  Mother  Earth  was  given  seed, 

In  bosom  dark  it  lay ; 
A  rain-drop  fell,  the  earth  it  drank, 

The  Sun  peeped  in  next  day. 
He  said  to  seed,  "  Drive  out  the  germ 

That  lies  thy  heart  within. 
Send  up  a  stem,  put  forth  a  bud, 

Your  work  of  life  begin." 

The  voice  was  heard ;  an  answer  came, 

The  seed  sprang  into  life. 
The  germ  burst  forth ;  it  pushed  the  stem. 

And  so  began  the  strife. 
The  Sun  again  looked  down  and  smiled, 

A  dew-drop  passing  by 
Stopped  now  to  see  a  life  begun, 

And  tarried — ask  you  why? 

102 


THE    COQUETTE    FLOWER 


Because  Life's  mystery  was  here, 

It  used  its  wiles  to  woo. 
A  leaf  was  born  to  nurse  the  bud, 

Which  'gan  its  journey  too. 
The  bud  began  its  toilsome  march. 

The  sun,  the  rain,  the  dew, 
All  sought  to  win  the  heart  of  bud, 

All  promised  to  be  true. 

The  sunbeam  bright  made  speech  to  bud, 

"  Unfold  thee  now,  a  flower," 
The  bud  obeyed  the  sunbeam's  words ; 

On  all  did  perfume  shower. 
The  rain,  the  dew,  the  sunbeam  warm, 

All  loved  the  blossom  bright ; 
With  love-lit  eyes  she  gazed  on  all, 

Seemed  filled  with  love's  delight. 


103 


THE    COQUETTE    FLOWER 


Another  sunbeam  came  that  way, 

It  kissed  the  flower's  cheek. 
She  blushed  beneath  his  ardent  gaze, 

And  for  his  love  did  seek. 
But  not  alone  for  his  love  sought, 

For  coquette  was  the  flower. 
She  gave  her  troth  to  dew  and  rain, 

But  dwelt  in  sun-god's  bower. 

A  rain-drop  fell  within  her  heart, 

A  dew-drop  touched  her  cheek, 
A  sunbeam  kissed  her  rosy  lips, — 

All  for  her  love  did  speak. 
She  smiled  on  one,  another  gave 

A  breath  of  perfume  rare, 
To  one  she  promised  all  her  love, — 

Thus  all  she  did  ensnare. 


104 


"  SEEK,  AND  YE  SHALL  FIND ;  KNOCK,  AND 
IT  SHALL  BE  OPENED  UNTO  YOU  " 

If  we  knock  at  the  portal  of  knowledge. 

Wide  open  will  fly  the  strong  door. 
If  we  drink  from  the  fountain  of  wisdom, 

We  thirst  for  its  waters  e'ermore. 
If  we  seek  in  the  storehouse  of  Nature, 

Most  lavish  she  is  to  us  all ; 
For  no  niggard  is  she  with  her  blessings, 

When  earnestly  on  her  we  call. 

She  throws  open  her  treasure-house  ever — 

Invites  us  to  take  all  we  want. 
If  we  come  from  her  vaults  empty-handed, 

Our  poverty  will  us  aye  haunt. 
But  the  more  we  do  take  from  her  riches, 

The  more  she  is  ready  to  give. 
We  may  choose  from  her  gems  e'en  the  rarest, 

Sweet  Nature  doth  ever  forgive. 


105 


"  SEEK   AND    YE    SHALL   FIND " 


For  most  generous  hostess  is  Nature, 

She  gives  with  a  bounteous  hand ; 
But  we  never  impoverish  her  coffers, — 

She  gathers  from  every  land. 
Be  ye  never  then  weary  in  seeking — 

Fear  not  that  your  knock  is  too  loud  ; 
For  the  door  will  be  unto  you  opened, 

No  frown  will  your  welcome  enshroud. 

Though  we  dig  in  the  depths  of  earth's  bosom, 

Though  scale  we  the  high  mountain's  crest, 
Though  we  dive  beneath  ocean's  dark  billows, 

Each  treasure  we  find  seems  the  best. 
If  we  delve  in  the  storehouse  of  knowledge — 

We  learn  something  new  every  day. 
Though  we  seek  in  the  mountains  of  India, 

New  truths  we  are  finding  alway. 


106 


"SEEK   AND    YE    SHALL    FIND" 


E'en  among  the  low  tribes  of  the  nations, — 

'Mong  even  the  cannibal  race, — 
We  may  sometime  find  rich  hidden  treasures 

That  will  not  high  culture  disgrace. 
Knock  ye  then  at  remotest  closed  doorways, 

And  seek  ye  at  portals  though  shut ; 
They  will  open  straightway  to  truth-seekers. 

You  e'en  may  find  pearls  in  a  hut. 


107 


GATHERING  OF  THE  SHEAVES" 

A  pure,  new  book  I  give  to  thee ; 

Unsullied  are  its  leaves. 
The  title  of  the  book  I  give 

Is  "  Gathering  of  the  Sheaves." 

Last  summer's  store  I  care  not  for ; 

No  grain  is  in  the  sheaf ; 
'T  is  worthless  straw,  thrashed  o'er  and  o'er, 

Like  soiled  and  tattered  leaf. 

The  harvest  ready  is  for  scythe, 
Have  you  sowed  tares  or  wheat? 

Have  you  enriched  the  ground  with  thought  ? 
For  soon  comes  summer's  heat. 

And  then  you  '11  need  the  rain  of  truth ; 

Oh,  harrow  well  the  soil ! 
The  grain  must  not  imperfect  be 

Or  useless  is  votir  toil. 


108 


"GATHERING  OF  THE  SHEAVES" 

If  you  plant  love,  you  peace  will   reap; 

Plant  discord,  you  reap  hate. 
For  scorching  blasts,  and  furious  storms, 

Will  ne'er  in  life  abate. 

Cut  leaves  of  book,  and  there  you  '11  find 

Each  page  unsullied,  pure  ; 
Choose  well  the  lines  you  write  therein, 

For  they  will  e'er  endure. 

In  future  life  you  read  this  book, — 

T  is  writ  in  fadeless  ink. 
Erased  can  ne'er  be  line  nor  word, 

Nor  even  what  you  think. 

A  chain  most  strong  of  words  is  formed ; 

Nor  broken  can  it  be  ; 
'1  is  welded  by  your  every  thought 

For  all  eternity. 

Store  well  Life's  sheaves,  the  grains  of  thought,- 

Your  harvest  will  be  good, 
If  sheaves  are  bound  by  ties  of  love, 

And  evil  you  've  withstood. 


109 


THE    NEW    YEAR 

With  joy  we  greet  the  bright  "New  Year  "- 

Shed  tears  for  year  now  gone. 
Shed  tears  for  all  its  dire  mistakes, — 
Are  glad  o'er  victories  won. 

A  lesson  all  the  past  should  teach, 

That  we  must  watch  alway 
Our  little  sins,  lest  great  they  grow, 

And  fill  us  with  dismay, 

And  break  all  laws  till  they  become 

The  master,  we  the  slave 
To  evil  passions,  selfish  greed, 

Till  not  but  ill  we  crave. 

New  resolutions  we  may  make  ; 

But  if  we  keep  them  not, 
But  little  good  will  they  e'er  do, 

But  little  good  be  wrought. 


no 


THE   NEW    YEAR 

Oh,  welcome  we  the  coming  months ! 

Will  give  them  hearty  cheer. 
We  '11  bury  all  our  past  mistakes, 

In  coffin  of  "  Old  Year." 


J  i  I 


THE    BIRTH    OF    A    STATE 

Another  child  has  Uncle  Sam, — 

Was  born  from  out  the  sea, — 
A  child  of  love  and  confidence ; 

Her  name  is  Hawaii. 

The  dusky  child  adopted  is, — 

A  waif  sent  U.  S.  A., 
The  child  was  left  at  Sammy's  door ; 

He  thought  he  'd  let  it  stay. 

The  child  well  pleased,  now  crowed  and  laughed, 

And  waved  our  flag  on  high- 
Its  stripes  unfurled  o'er  seagirt  isle  ; 

Will  live  for  it— and  die. 

For  swaddling-clothes  was  giv'n  the  flag— 

The  flag  with  colors  three ; 
Most  willing  Uncle  Sam  that  flag 

Should  cover  Hawaii. 


112 


THE    BIRTH    OF   A    STATE 


But  if  too  fast  the  children  come, 

The  flag  must  be  enlarged. 
Or  stars  be  scattered  o'er  the  stripes, 

Else  children  be  discharged. 
» 
The  nations  all  congratulate, 

And  say  that  U.  S.  A. 
Is  father  brave  and  mother  kind 

To  children  who  obey 

The  laws  laid  down  by  Uncle  Sam, 

And  on  the  archives  writ, 
And  though  these  laws  seem  sometimes  harsh, 

They  every  case  will  fit. 

Unruly  if  these  children  are— 

Our  laws  they  disobey — 
Severely  punished  will  they  be 

By  Uncle  U.  S.  A. 


THE    BIRTH    OF   A    STATE 

Each  nation  true,  may  have  a  star, — 
They  need  no  longer  wait ; 

For  Uncle  Sam  most  willing  is 
To  add  each  year  a  State, 

And  share  his  stars  and  stripes  with  all 
Who  will  allegiance  swear, 

Who  worthy  are  to  share  his  home, 
And  flag  of  freedom  wear. 


114 


A    SONG   OF    DAVID 

"  I  will  walk  in  mine  integrity" — 

Was  a  song  that  David  sung. 
You  will  find  no  grander  words  t1ran  these  ; 

They  have  down  the  ages  rung. 

And  can  none  gainsay  his  honesty, 

When  from  his  lips  these  words  rang  out, 

"  I  will  walk  in  mine  integrity." 
Thus  he  felt,  no  one  can  doubt. 

"  I  will  walk  in  mine  integrity"- 

Nor  will  fear  the  light  of  sun. 
I  will  choose  the  way  of  right  and  truth 

Till  my  race  of  life  is  run. 

"  I  will  walk  in  mine  integrity," 

Nor  will  wrong  I  any  one. 
I  will  give  to  man  his  every  right, 

Thus,  integrity  be  won. 


DRIFTWOOD 

We  're  tossed  upon  the  shores  of  time, 

As  driftwood,  from  afar. 
No  thought  of  life, — its  problems  deep, 

Which  leave  on  brain  a  scar. 
So  worn  the  wood,  and  also  heart, 
By  waves  of  sea  or  thought, 
That  oft  we  sink  beneath  life's  waves, 

Or  by  life's  storms  are  caught. 

We  have  not  strength  to  stem  the  tide — 

For,  buffeted  by  storms, 
We  're  dashed  on  shoals  or  thrown  on  rocks, 

With  mangled,  bleeding  forms. 
No  life  is  in  the  bit  of  wood, 

And  dead  is  every  hope ; 
Our  storm-tossed  bark  rides  not  the  gale, 

No  more  with  waves  can  cope. 


116 


DRIFTWOOD 


Life's  problems  are  too  great,  too  deep  - 

We  know  not  whence  we  came,— 
We  dream  not  what  our  future  is ; 

Life  seems  an  empty  name. 
If  we  should  gain  the  highest  place, 

Or  if  we  fall  to  earth 
Is  world  aught  better  since  we  came, — 

Made  better  by  our  birth  ? 

Aye  drifting  we,  by  tide  and  wind, 

As  useless  bit  of  wood. 
Though  oft  the  storms  of  sea  and  life 

By  us  have  been  withstood. 
The  wood  mayhap  was  from  a  ship 

That  sank  beneath  dark  wave — 
Went  down,  to  never  rise  again, 

A  sepulcher,  a  grave 


117 


DRIFTWOOD 


Of  lives  and  hopes  that  once  were  sweet, 

But   wrecked   now   on   bleak  shore, 
Thrown  up  on  beach,  by  winds  that  moan, 

That  moan  for  evermore. 
O  restless  life !    O  stranded  ship  ! 

We  cannot  know  thy  fate  ; 
Though  builded  by  a  master  hand, 

A  grave  doth  thee  await. 


118 


•MY    PEACE    GIVE    I    UNTO    YOU." 

"My  peace  give  I  unto  you"  ever,  - 

The  peace  you  have  earned  by  your  love 
The  peace  that  doth  come  from  well-doing, 

The  peace  that  doth  come  from  above. 
This  peace  is  beyond  understanding, 

So  full  of  deep  joy  is  it  aye ; 
This  peace  you  must  work  for  untiring, 

Then  joy  in  your  heart  will  e'er  stay. 

If  living  a  life  full  of  envy, 

If  living  a  life  full  of  strife, 
If  sowing  ye  discord  forever, 

Can  peace  come  into  your  life  ? 
But  sometimes  it 's  war  that  I  send  thee, 

That  fuller  the  peace  be  at  last. 
When  war  is  for  right,  'stead  of  glory, 

All  quarrels  will  be  of  the  past. 


119 


"MY    PEACE    GIVE   I    UNTO    YOU" 

Forever  and  ever  press  onward, — 

Forever  your  soul  should  keep  pace 
With  present  vibrations  of  freedom, — 

You  all  of  life's  problems  must  face. 
My  peace  will  I  give  to  thee  ever — 

But  only  the  peace  that  you  earn 
By  doing  the  will  of  the  Father, — 

His  laws,  ever  just,  you  must  learn. 


1 20 


THE    LAND    OF    SOMEWHERE 

In  that  happy  land  called  Somewhere 
Are  high  honors  ever  waiting, 

Fame,  and  riches  too,  most  tempting ; 
But  these  gifts  seem  not  for  me. 

I  will  seek  this  land  alluring. 

Though  I  have  no  chart  nor  compass, 
Even  though  my  ship  be  foundered, 

Lost  for  aye  on  Somewhere  Sea. 

For  my  love  is  there  awaiting — 
In  this  land  of  promise,  waiting ; 

Ever  faithful,  ever  loving  ; 
Ever  blindly  seeking  me. 

Patiently  is  she  e'er  watching 
For  my  coming,  never  doubting, 

E'er  inviting,  e'er  enticing 

To  her  home  bv  Somewhere  Sea. 


121 


DOST    THOU    KNOW? 

Dost  thou  know  what  is  the  secret — 

What  the  secret  of  all  life? 
Whence  it  came,  and  where  it  goeth, 

When  began  the  first  fierce  strife 
To  send  forth  the  tiny  atom  ? 

Had  the  atom  soul  or  mind  ? 
Was  it  man,  or  beast,  or  reptile  ? 

How  its  mate  did  first  it  find  ? 

Man  can  never  learn  a  language 

Strong  enough  to  break  the  chains 
And  express  the  thought  of  nature. 

How  it  holds,  when  first  it  gains 
All  the  rays  of  sunshine  needed— 

And  the  food  it  takes  from  earth — 
All  the  dew-drops  that  hath  nourished 

Tiny  fronds  from  their  first  birth. 

122 


DOST    THOU    KNOW? 


Life  divine !  O  life  eternal ! 

Man  can  not  translate  the  thought. 
Strong  the  chain  that  God  hath  welded ; 

Link  on  link  hath  chain  been  wrought. 
Fabric  new  each  day  is  woven, 

Woven  it  on  God's  own  loom. 
We  the  threads  can  ne'er  unravel, 

Hidden  they  in  Nature's  womb. 

Though   forever   we  're  progressing, 

We  shall  never  reach  the  end. 
For  who  knoweth   life's  beginning? 

Ever  onward  is  the  trend. 
Ever  onward,  ever  upward  ; 

But  too  grand  is  this  for  speech. 
Life  eternal — never  ending — 

This  too  deep  for  thought  to  reach. 


123 


DOST    THOU    KNOW? 


We  can  ne'er  unlock  this  myst'ry ! 

We  have  not  the  golden  key  ; 
God,  the  maker,  hath  it  hidden, 

Hidden  it  from  me  and  thee. 
And  this  key  is  sacred,  holy, — 

God,  the  lock  holds  in  His  hand, 
Holds  it  even  from  His  angels. 

None  the  lock  can  understand. 


124 


HEART-YEARNINGS 

We  hear  a  strain  of  music  sweet — 
A  symphony  of  by-gone  years — 

A  sad  refrain,  which  causeth  us 
To  ofttimes  shed  most  bitter  tears. 

A  song  we  hear ;  its  every  word 

Doth  bring  to  mind  a  long-past  time, 

A  boyish  love,  a  childish  grief, 

A  fragrant  breath  from  sunny  clime. 

A  rippling  laugh  comes  floating  in, — 
Tis  born  in  heart  of  happy  child. 

We  catch  its  joyous  notes  of  glee, 
An  echo  seems,  of  song-bird  wild. 

A  sob  we  hear,  see  tear-stained  face  ; 

The  world  seems  now  with  anguish  filled. 
A  cloud  obscures  the  sun's  bright  rays, — 

Can  yearnings  of  the  heart  be  stilled  ? 


125 


HEART-YEARNINGS 

We  sense  the  perfume  of  a  flower- 
In  heart  this  fragrance  long  hath  been  ; 

And   only   waited   angel's   touch 
Its  incense  sweet  for  us  to  win. 

A  passing  breath  of  summer  wind, 

The  lightning's  flash,  the  thunder's  roar, 

All  speak  to  us  of  childhood's  hours 
And  happy  home  in  days  of  yore. 

O  happy  childhood !  blessed  youth ! 

But  once  we  know  thy  potent  power ; 
But  once  we  live  all  careless  free ; 

No  cross  to  mar  our  love-lit  bower. 


126 


THE    SUN-WORSHIPERS 

O  Sun !  our  father,  mother,  friend ! 

Creator  of  the  universe. 
In  thee  all  life  hath  had  its  birth, 

From  thee  no  child  receives  a  curse. 

The  flowers  from  thy  loving  heart 
Sprang  into  life  and  into  bloom  ; 

The  rivers  had  their  source  in  thee, — 
E'en  night,  with  all  her  gruesome  gloom. 

All  beasts  and  birds  can  speak  of  thee 
As  loving  child  of  parent  should. 

The  clouds,  the  storms,  all  energy 
Have  by  thy  side  in  love  once  stood. 

The  forests  grand,  the  desert  wastes, 
The  insects,  reptiles,  also  man, 

To  thee  can  chant  a  hymn  of  praise 
In  thee  they  live,  they  first  began.    „ 


127 


THE    SUN-WORSHIPERS 


Thy  power  can  none  gainsay,  dispute. 

Thy  first  and  strongest  child  was  fire. 
We  worship  it  in  deepest  awe, 

And  to  its  throne  we  will  aspire. 

The  earth  then  next  was  born  to  thee, — 
Thou  gazed  on  it  with  parent's  pride, 

And  also  with  a  parent's  love — 
By  it  thou  ever  wilt  abide. 

Rich  gifts  hast  thou  bestowed  on  it, 
With  gems  most  rare  its  bosom  filled, 

Gave  mountain  crowns  for  it  to  wear, 
Its  seas  and  oceans  thou  hast  willed. 

And  then  to  man,  thy  best-loved  child, 

Dominion  over  all,  you  gave. 
Thou  gav'st  him  mind ;  thou  gav'st  him  love ; 

Best  gift  of  all,  thou  gav'st  the  grave. 


128 


THE    SUN-WORSHIPERS 


We  worship  thee,  O  Sun !  our  God ! 

We  bow  our  heads  in  reverence  deep. 
We  know  that  thou  dost  love  thy  child — 

E'en  blessing  't  is  that  he  can  weep. 

For  tears  refresh  the  broken  heart— 

They  moisten  e'er  the  arid  soil ; 
Bright  smiles  oft  spring  from  tear-dimmed  eyes, 

And  in  them  love  again  will  coil. 


129 


BABY'S    SHOE 

A  baby's  shoe,  with  heel  run  down, 
And  toe  worn  through  and  through, 

The  buttons  off — most  shabby  it, — 
But,  't  is  my  baby's  shoe. 

The  impress  of  her  chubby  foot 

Is  photographed  thereon. 
I  seem  to  hear  her  toddling  steps, 

Though  she  has  long  been  gone. 

The  little  shoe  is  stored  away 

Beside  a  tiny  gown; 
A  faded  ribbon  is  there  too, 

Inside  the  shoe  so  brown. 

A  broken  doll,  a  withered  flower, 

A  cap,  with  signs  of  wear, 
A  little  shirt,  a  little  skirt 

And   lock  of  yellow  hair. 

130 


BABY'S    SHOE 


A  broken  heart  is  also  there — 
In  locked-up  drawer  so  drear, 

With  scent  of  rose-leaves  from  the  grave 
Of  baby  girl  so  dear. 

I  seem  to  hear  her  laugh  and  coo ; 

I  feel  her  fragrant  breath. 
I  feel  her  kisses  on  my  cheek, 

Though  lips  are  cold  in  death. 

My  romping,  laughing,  happy  girl, — 

A  fairy  child  was  she. 
A  wand  was  waived  by  angel  hand, 

Mv  child  left  home  and  me. 


BABY'S    SHOE 


Left  home  and  me  all  desolate, — 
Naught  left  but  memory  sweet 

Of  baby's  laugh,  of  baby's  kiss, 
Of  baby's  toddling  feet. 

A  stillness  now  as  of  the  grave 
Must  evermore  be  borne. 

With  tear-wet  eyes,  I  often  look 
At  tiny  shoe  so  worn. 


132 


BABY'S    DREAM 

My  angel  mother,  bending  low, 

With  soft  and  downy  wings, 
Is  pressing  kisses  on  my  lips, — 

A  lullaby  she  sings. 

Chorus :     By-lo-baby  !   mother  's  near, 
To  soothe  thy  every  fear, 
Bring  sweet  dreams  into  thy  sleep, 
And  wipe  away  each  tear. 


Thy  angel  mother  will  thee  guard, 
And  e'er  thy  steps  will  guide,— 

Will  teach  thee  in  all  walks  of  life, 
With  thee  will  aye  abide. 

Chorus:    By-lo-baby!  shut  your  eyes- 
There's  nectar  in  my  kiss. 
Angel  food  to  thee  I'll  give, 
Bring  unto  you  all  bliss. 

133 


BABY'S    DREAM 

Thy  angel  mother  knows  full  well 

The  needs  of  baby  dear ; 
Will  give  whatever  is  best  for  it, 

Though  earthly  mother  fear. 

Chorus :    By-lo-baby  !  shut  your  eyes — 
I'll  kiss  your  eyelids  down. 
Loving  hands  will  cover  you, 
Give  smiles,  but  ne'er  a  frown. 

Thy  angel  mother  knows  what 's  best 

For  baby  while  on  earth. 
Thy  guardian  angel  loves  her  child; 

She  came  at  baby's  birth. 

Chorus:    By-lo-baby!  angel  child — 

I'll  take  thee  now  on  high ; 
Winds  are  cold,  the  earth  is  drear, 
And  trouble  aye  is  nigh. 

Thy  angel  mother  will  thee  wrap 

In  heavenly  garments  bright. 
Thy  body  now  is  laid  in  earth, 

Thy  spirit  takes  its  flight 

134 


BABY'S    DREAM 


Through  azure  clouds  of  heavenly  blue, 

No  storms  beset  thy  way, 
For  angel  hands  will  hold  thee  up, 

And  be  with  thee  alway. 

Chorus :    By-lo-baby  !     In  my  arms, 

No  more  you  '11  suffer  pain. 
Never  more  will  trouble  know, 
No  tears  your  cheeks  will  stain. 


O  earthly  mother,  do  not  grieve — 

For  baby  do  not  weep. 
Escaped  hath  she  all  earthly  ills,— 

She  in  my  arms  doth  sleep. 

Chorus :    By-lo-baby  !  heaven's  child, 
Go  back  to  earth  to-day ; 
Whisper  words  of  love  and  peace 
To  mother,  while  you  stav. 


135 


BABY'S    DREAM 


Now,  earthly  mother,  loose  your  arms, 

Return  the  babe  to  me. 
I  saw  the  troubles  she  must  bear, 

If  staid  on  earth  with  thee. 

Chorus :    By-lo-baby !  leave  the  earth — 

Return  to  me  again. 
Cheered  you  have  thy  mother  now, 
Have  eased  her  heart's  deep  pain, 


136 


ON    FINDING   A    BIT    OF    PENCIL 

T  is  but  a  little  pencil, 

A  tiny  bit  of  wood, 
But  who  its  power  can  fathom 

For  evil  or  for  good? 
Mayhap  a  heart  was  broken, 

A  life  by  it  made  sad ; 
With  it  were  words  once  written 

Which  made  a  poor  heart  glad. 

So  many  lives  may  changed  be 

By  this  small  bit  of  wood, 
Some  life  perhaps  made  better 

Temptation  hath  withstood ; 
Was  traced  a  tender  message 

With  it,  long  years  ago, — 
Forgiveness  to  another, 

Who  once  was  bitterest  foe. 


137 


ON    FINDING    A   BIT    OF    PENCIL 

Then  keep  this  little  pencil, 

And  treasure  it  for  aye ; 
Again  it  may  do  service, 

And  cast  a  brighter  ray 
Upon  some  life  all  gloomy, 

Upon  some  sorrowing  one. 
With  it  was  message  written 

By  which  a  heart  was  won. 


138 


WORK    IS    HONORABLE 

We  '11  join  the  throng  of  workers 
Bread-winners  we  will  be 

Not  drones  on  earth  be  longer. 
There  's  work  for  thee  and  me. 

All  nature  e'er  is  struggling,— 
E'en  flowers  must  work  to  live ; 

They  gather  up  the  sunbeams, 
To  us  their  fragrance  give. 

And  e'en  the  smallest  insect — 
Not  seen  by  mortal  eyes — 

Toils  hard  for  all  its  nurture, 
And  struggles  till  it  dies. 

We  may  not  solve  the  problem 
While  here  on  earth  we  live, 

That  we  must  ever  labor — 
That  God  doth  nothing  give. 

139 


WORK   IS    HONORABLE 

Perhaps  the  reason  some  time 
Will  be  to  us  made  plain, 

That  every  earth  experience 
Has  been  to  us  some  gain. 

Our  work  will  make  us  happy, 

If  we  but  understand 
That  for  our  good  't  is  needed — 

Debased  not  toiler's  hand. 

So  join  we  now  the  workers, 

And  labor  with  a  will, 
With  cheer  will  do  God's  bidding, 

Grind  on  in  Nature's  mill. 


140 


TAHITI 

Tahiti  fair  is  Heaven's  own  land — 

A  paradise  on  earth. 
No  poisonous  flower  there  ever  grows, 

No  reptile  there  hath  birth. 

This  fairy  land  is  girded  round 

By  reef  of  coral  white. 
T  was  made  by  God's  own  architects 

Who  labor  day  and  night. 

And  on  this  lovely  island  bright 
E'en  bread  on  trees  doth  grow. 

There  are  no  biting  winds  nor  frosts, 
No  chilling  blasts  nor  snow. 

O  peaceful  isle!  so  far  away 
From  turmoil  and  all  strife. 

Thy  people  live  on  thee,  fair  isle, 
A  happy,  dreamy  life. 


141 


TAHITI 

No  jealous  thoughts  seem  e'er  to  blast 

Their  hearts  so  calm,  serene. 
On  "  Eden's  Isle  "  they  live  and  die, 

This  island  ever  green. 

Couldst  man  e'er  wish  for  more  on  earth? 

Is  't  not  enough  to  live 
With  not  a  care,  in  simple  ease, 

No  curse  to  children  give? 

O  Isle  Tahiti !  wouldst  that  I 
Beneath  thy  trees  might'st  rest! 

Couldst  live  and  dream  my  life  away 
On  thy  fair,  peaceful  breast. 


142 


A    LETTER 

A  letter,  sent  out  the  ocean  across, 

Seemed  little  its  import,  little  its  loss. 

But  hearts  are  made  sad  by  this  letter  so  small — 

Made  desolate  a  home,  and  its  inmates  all 

Are  scattered  abroad  in  poverty  great, 

Love  banished  from  home,  but  cherished  is  Hate. 

The  paper  once  pure — not  even  a  line 

Its  beauty  did  mar — becomes  now  a  shrine 

Where  tears  are  oft  shed  o'er  sorrow  so  deep, — 

A  grave,  as  it  were,  where  loved  ones  do  weep. 

O  letter !  hadst  thou  but  known  the  distress 

Thy  coming   wouldst  cause, — that  none  wouldst 

thou  bless,— 

Methinks  thou  hadst  burned  to  ashes  in  grief, 
Not  robbed  thou  a  fireside,  entering  as  thief. 
If  joy  couldst  not  bring,  be  lost  in  the  deep ; 
If  couldst  not  bring  smiles,  wouldst  cause  none  to 

weep. 


TIME'S   RAVAGES 

Time's  finger,  with  relentless  power, 
Doth  furrow  lines  of  care  on  brow ; 

With  seeming  malice  frosts  the  hair, 

With  weight  of  years  the  form  doth  bow. 

He  takes  from  mind  its  keenest  wit, 
Makes  dull  the  eye  once  shining  bright, 

From  mem'ry  takes  its  richest  stores 
Makes  heavy  step  which  once  was  light. 

The  heart  makes  sad  which  once  was  gay, 
The  senses  dulled ;   e'en  hope  doth  sleep ; 

The  brightest  mind  grows  dark  in  time  ; 
Age  for  the  past  can  only  weep. 

By  hearthstone  warm  age  loves  to  sit ; 

The  world  gives  little  pleasure  now. 
A  retrospective  book  age  cons, 

Each  page  doth  he  with  past  endow. 


144 


TIME'S    RAVAGES 

The  clock  may  stop,  but  Time  goes  on, 
Regardless  of  man's  hopes  and  fears ; 

And  cares  he  not  if  face  of  man 

Is  wreathed  in  smiles  or  stained  by  tears. 

Time  ever  mocks  all  youthful  hopes ; 

He  laughs  at  every  plan  youth  makes ; 
He  buries  fame  and  honor  deep 

In  grave  of  hope— too  late  youth  wakes. 

We  grasp  at  Time,  but  cannot  hold 
One  minute  of  his  treasured  hour ; 

He  tarries  not,  though  oft  we  pray 

That  he  will  rest  in  youth's  bright  bower. 


'45 


CATCH    THE    SUNSHINE 

If  a  little  beam  of  sunshine 

E'er  comes  in  at  casement  small 
And  doth  light  up  all  the  crannies, 

Thou  with  joy  accept  it  all. 
For  to-morrow  may  be  cloudy, 

All  enveloped  be  in  gloom, 
Rain  be  on  thy  pathway  falling, 

Shadows  dark  be  in  thy  room. 

Catch  and  hold  the  beams  of  sunshine,- 

Store  them  deep  within  thy  heart. 
You  will  find  them  not  too  plenty ; 

Storms  in  life  form  greater  part. 
Garner,  then,  all  beams  of  sunlight 

That  around  thy  path  may  fall ; 
For  too  oft  are  clouds  o'erhanging 

And  too  oft  is  funeral  pall. 


146 


SHADOWS 

Dimmed  are  mine  eyes  by  sorrow  and  age, 
And  nothing  seems  clear  as  in  youth. 

Grasping  at  shadows  ever  I  am, 
And  shadows  seem  real  as  truth. 

Seeing  on  floor  a  shadow  one  day, 
A  shadow  as  black  as  the  night, 

Quickly  I  stooped  the  shadow  to  grasp, 
As  quickly  it  vanished  from  sight. 

Filled  may  be  bowl  with  sorrow  and  grief ,- 
Put  forth  not  your  hand  for  the  cup. 

Stand  you  in  sunshine,  not  in  the  shade ; 
No  shadow  then  can  you  pick  up. 

Shadow  ne'er  cast  o'er  life  of  your  friend ; 

Send  sunshine  to  heart  of  your  foe. 
Needed  is  light  to  brighten  the  heart ; 

Small  ray  will  great  shadows  o'erthrow. 


147 


SHADOWS 

Stoop  not  to  earth  with  burdens  of  grief ; 

Erect  you  must  stand,  facing  your  woe. 
Sunlight  of  love  e'er  flash  over  all ; 

Then  friend  you  will  make  of  your  foe. 

Often  we  bend  some  shadow  to  grasp, — 
The  shadow  we  might  have  made  bright. 

Catching  the  sunshine,  scattering  its  beams, 
Deep  darkness  will  flee  before  light. 

Searching  forever  if  we  are  for  gloom, 
So  many  dark  shadows  we'll  find ; 

Sometime  e'en  then  bright  ray  we  will  see, 
For  God  to  His  children  is  kind. 


148 


"GO    IN    PEACE,    SIN    NO    MORE' 

Never  more  will  I  condemn  thee, — 

Sister,  go  ye  now  in  peace. 
Sin  thou  not  no  more  forever,— 

Go !   Thy  soul  from  sin  release. 
Never  more  will  I  condemn  thee, — 

Thy  temptations  were  too  strong ; 
Thou  too  weak  wast  to  resist  them, 

Couldst  not  overcome  the  wrong. 

Never  more  will  I  condemn  thee,— 

Born  thou  wast  in  deepest  sin. 
Parents  evil  didst  bequeath  thee, 

And  with  sin  thou  e'er  hast  been. 
Never  more  will  I  condemn  thee ; 

Direst  want  hath  been  thy  lot ; 
Thou  hast  ever  struggled,  sister,— 

Nothing  for  thee  hath  been  wrought. 


149 


GO   IN    PEACE,    SIN    NO    MORE" 


Never  more  will  I  condemn  thee, 

Fallen  though  thou  hast  by  way ; 
Others  gave  to  thee  example ; 

Thou  didst  not  high  law  obey. 
Never  more  will  I  condemn  thee ; 

Evil  was  thy  mother's  life. 
Sin,  gave  father  for  a  pension, — 

Born  and  bred  thou  wast  in  strife. 

Never  more  will  I  condemn  thee. 

What,  dear  sister,  hast  thou  done  ? 
Broken  thou  the  laws  of  being ; 

Evil  why  wilt  thou  not  shun  ? 
Though  enticed  thou  art  to  evil, 

Shun  it  why  wilt  never  thou  ? 
Purer  life,  oh,  live  in  future ! 

Sister,  to  the  right  now  bow. 


150 


"GO    IN    PEACE,    SIN    NO    MORE" 


"  Though  your  sins  should  be  as  scarlet/ 

You  need  not  abandon  hope. 
Now  begin  a  life  more  righteous, 

And  in  darkness  do  not  grope. 
Thou  wilt  find  thyself  more  able 

Every  day  to  conquer  sin. 
Stronger  thou  'It  become,  dear  sister, 

And  o'er  self  wilt  vict'ry  win. 


THE    FUTURE    OF    YOUTH 

In  the  future  the  sun  is  aye  shining, 

And  no  cloud  is  ever  in  sky. 
There  is  never  sad  heart  nor  repining 

In  the  joyous  "  sweet  by-and-by." 

There  's  an  angel  of  light  in  the  future 
Who  is  spreading  her  wings  to  protect, 

Who  is  smiling  on  ever,  ne'er  weeping, — 
And  this  angel  doth  ever  elect 

That  no  tears  shall  e'er  fill  up  the  measure, 

And  no  dregs  be  ever  in  bowl, 
That  we  drink  from  life's  cup  only  pleasure, 

And  but  peace  be  ever  in  soul. 

When  we  come  into  youth's  happy  future, 
All  the  visions  of  past  are  dispelled; 

For  we  only  can  live  in  the  present, — 

And  't  is  well  that  some  dreams  are  withheld. 


152 


DON'T    TROUBLE   YOURSELF 

Though  your  friends  may  believe  quite  contrary  to 

you, 

Have  discarded  the  old,  and  have  chosen  the  new, 
Though  their  methods  of  work  unlike  are  to  yours, 
And  perhaps  to  your  thought  are  wearisome  bores, — 
Don't  trouble  yourself ! 

Though   perchance   e'en   their   tastes   are   loud   and 

bizarre, 
And  their  choice   of  bright  tints  your   senses   will 

jar,— 

They  may  differ  from  you  in  politics,  too, — 
But,  my  friend,  do  not  worry, — what  can  you  do  ? 
Don't  trouble  yourself! 

You  are  living  your  life ;  your  friend  will  live  his, — 
So  you  need  not  him  question,  do  not  him  quiz. 
You  like  better  the  sea ;  your  friend  likes  the  land ; 
You  the  mountains  prefer,  while  he  loves  the  strand. 
But  don't  trouble  vourself! 


DON'T    TROUBLE    YOURSELF 

You  a  Christian  may  be,  your  neighbor  a  Jew, 
As  devoted  is  he,  and  good  quite  as  you. 
If  your  friend  is  a  Pagan,  wonder  you  why ; 
You  may  fear  he  is  lost,  his  views  you  decry, — 
But  don't  trouble  yourself ! 

Now  all  nature  hath  laws  most  just  and  divine; 
On  some  part  of  the  earth  will  sun  always  shine. 
We  believe  in  a  God, — obey  Him  we  must, 
His  commands  try  to  keep,  in  Him  put  our  trust, — 
So  don't  trouble  yourself ! 

That  we  die  we  all  know,  that  spirit  lives  on ; 
Many  battles  we  've  fought,  not  always  have  won. 
In  God's  keeping  are  we, — He  guides  all  our  lives; 
Though    full    oft    we    may    sin,    He   with    us    still 
strives, — 

So  don't  trouble  yourself  ! 

We  will  try,  though  we  fail,  God's  laws  to  aye  keep ; 
Though  we  stumble  and  fall,  no  need  that  we  weep ; 
For  at  last,  when  we  die,  all  things  will  be  right, — 
For  just  ruler  is  God,  nor  rules  He  by  might, — 
So  don't  trouble  vourself. 


154 


THE    TWO    ROADS 

Years  have  passed,  but  I  remember 

When,  a  dancing  child  of  joy, 
Not  a  care  had  I  nor  trouble ; 

In  my  life  was  no  alloy. 
Culling  flowers  of  brilliant  colors, 

Ever  strewn  in  pathway  bright. 
Never  shadow  then  to  darken, 

All  my  life  was  purest  light. 

Soon  the  roads  diverged  before  me ; 

Which  to  take  I  did  not  know. 
One  seemed  filled  with  light  and  gladness, 

One  seemed  dark  and  filled  with  woe. 
Bright  the  flowers  in  my  pathway,— 

All  the  road  seemed  filled  with  light; 
In  the  other  weeds  were  growing ; 

Could  I  know  which  one  was  right  ? 


155 


THE    TWO    ROADS 


As  a  child  I  loved  all  brightness, 

Now  in  youth  I  loved  it  more. 
So  I  took  not  narrow  pathway, 

With  its  shadows  dark  before. 
Birds  were  singing  sweetest  love-songs 

In  the  tree-tops ;  'mong  the  flowers 
Butterflies  were  flitting  ever, 

Making  love  in  sunlit  bowers. 

All  before  me  was  enticing, — 

All  was  beauty,  naught  seemed  wrong ; 
E'en  the  trees  and  flowers  seemed  singing, 

All  was  melody  and  song. 
So'  I  chose  the  broadest  roadway, 

Without  fear  my  heart  within, 
Dancing  ever,  as  in  childhood ; 

Never  dreaming  aught  of  sin. 


156 


THE    TWO    ROADS 


Rugged  soon  my  path  and  dreary ; 

Soon  my  feet  sank  deep  in  mire. 
Ever  down  was  pathway  leading ; 

Other  road  led  ever  higher. 
Trees  exhaled  a  poisonous  vapor, 

And  I  heard  the  hiss  of  snake ; 
Tangled  weeds  my  way  were  barring ; 

Other  road  I  would  now  take. 

Now  is  gleam  of  sunshine  breaking, — 

Just  a  ray  shines  through  the  clouds. 
I  will  struggle  hard  to  grasp  it, 

Ere  the  darkness  all  enshrouds. 
I  will  strive  to  live  all  blameless, 

Xow  will  take  the  path  to  right ; 
Though  it  may  be  rough  and  thorny, 

It  doth  ever  lead  to  light. 


157 


THE    TWO    ROADS 


Shun  I  will  the  way  of  pleasure, — 

It  hath  led  to  dire  distress, — 
Choose  no  more  its  bright  allurements, 

For  its  joys  will  never  bless. 
Though  the  path  to  right  seems  gloomy,- 

Seemeth  sometimes  dark  and  drear, — 
It  is  brighter  at  its  ending, 

Causeth  not  one  bitter  tear. 


158 


LOVE'S    MELODY 

Out  in  the  broad,  broad  universe 
Is  loving  heart  attuned  to  mine ; 

No  discord  in  the  melody— 

For  Love,  the  leader,  is  divine. 

I  strike  a  chord,  and  sweet,  low  notes 

Reverberate  throughout  the  air- 
Vibrations  sending  through  all  space ; 
Discordant  notes  are  never  there, 

For  written  they  on  heart  of  her 
Who  is  my  love,  my  future  bride ; 

E'en  though  we  never  meet  on  earth, 
In  heaven  with  her  I  shall  abide. 

My  love  her  heart  will  aye  control ; 

For  tuned  we  are  in  selfsame  key. 
If  tuned  the  strings  of  harp  with  lute, 

Respond  they  will  in  harmony. 

159 


LOVE'S    MELODY 

Love  is  the  master  of  our  lives, 

And,  e'en  though  happy  subjects  we, 

We  're  governed  by  his  scepter  strong 
Through  time  and  through  eternity. 

No  "rift  in  lute"  is  ever  found,. 

For  made  it  was  by  master  hand, 
And  played  upon  by  angels  pure, 

Love,  Trust,  and  Faith,  a  holv  band. 


160 


LOVE'S    LANGUAGE 

A  furtive  glance  from  downcast  eye, 
A  rosy  blush,  a  deep-drawn  sigh  ; 
A  tender  pressure  of  the  hand, 
Well  understood  in  Love's  own  land. 

Love's  language  everywhere  is  known, 
By  gentle  maid  or  king  on  throne. 
Translated  it  in  every  tongue, 
T  is  chime  of  bells  by  Nature  rung. 


True  love  begins  in  heaven's  bower, 
Unfolds  on  earth  a  perfect  flower. 
Who  can  define  Love's  halting  speech 
None  it  can  learn, — none  it  can  teach. 


With  gold  can  Love  be  never  bought. 
Love  seeks  its  mate ;  by  mate  is  sought. 
Love's  flowers  bloom,  with  fragrance  fraught  ; 
The  perfume  back  to  heaven  is  caught. 


161 


LOVE'S   LANGUAGE 

It  comes  to  heart  as  zephyr  sweet, 
With  joy  unbounded  Love  we  greet ; 
He  makes  his  home  in  happy  heart, — 
Unerring  is  Love's  hallowed  dart. 

The  arrow  swift  from  Cupid's  bow 
Strikes  heart  of  king  or  peasant  low. 
Love  finds  but  sweetness  in  the  soul, 
And  joys  this  sweetness  to  control. 

Love  speaks  a  language  most  sublime, 
Its  idioms  known  in  every  clime. 
Illumines  it  the  face  of  man, 
Makes  fair  the  cheek  that  once  was  wan. 

Love's  tendrils  round  the  heart  doth  twine, 
As  round  the  oak  doth  cling  the  vine. 
Love  ever  is  in  blissful  state 
When  in  communion  with  its  mate. 


162 


DRIFTING 

Comes  drifting  in  from  a  far-off  shore, 

Comes  drifting-,  from  we  know  not  where, 
Small  bits  of  wood  from  an  unknown  land, 

Or  tiny  shell  with  tinting  rare ; 
A  cocoanut  and  a  tuft  of  grass, — 

A  bird  whose  journey,  far  too  long, 
Full  oft  sank  down  on  the  ocean  waves, 

Then  weakly  sang  his  death-note  song. 

We  stand  on  beach  as  the  tide  recedes 

And  list  to  dirge  the  waves  e'er  sing. 
In  heart  is  prayer  for  loved  ones  gone 

Far  o'er  the  sea  which  now  doth  bring 
The  tuft  of  grass,  or  the  drifting  wood, 

Or  echo  sad  of  sea-bird's  song. 
The  tuft  of  grass  came  perhaps  from  grave 

Where  loved  one  lies  and  mem'ries  throng. 


DRIFTING 

On  bit  of  wood  hath  been  carved,  mayhap, 

A  name  once  loved  in  long  ago ; 
The  shell  may  come  from  a  far-off  isle 

Where  trees  and  mammee  apples  grow. 
Are  drifting  out  on  the  tide  of  life 

Full  many  hopes  and  scattered  dreams, 
And  sad  refrains  of  a  long-dead  past, 

For  naught  in  life  is  what  it  seems. 


164 


"A    SKELETON    IN    EVERY    CLOSET" 

Tell  me,  friend,  is  there  one  in  your  closet  ? 

And,  if  so,  what  complexion  is  he  ? 
Is  he  one  of  your  very  own  children 

That  is  under  such  strong  lock  and  key  ? 

For  an  airing  do  ever  you  take  him 
In  a  carriage  or  for  a  short  walk  ? 

Is  he  dumb,  is  he  blind,  "  hard  of  hearing  "  ? 
Or  loquacious  is  he,  fond  of  talk? 

Is  he  child  of  your  youth  that  is  hidden 
By  the  wealth  that  is  yours  in  old  age  ? 

Was  he  born  to  your  home  in  your  manhood, 
A  memento  of  sin,  and  its  wage  ? 

But  perhaps  this  poor  child  you  Ve  adopted, 
And  to  some  one  you  love  it  belongs. 

For  the  sake  of  the  loved  one  it's  hidden, 
And  the  closet  kept  closed  on  her  wrongs. 

165 


UA    SKELETON    IN    EVERY    CLOSET" 

But  these  children  can  never  be  buried, 
And  dark  skeletons  always  are  they ; 

For  no  grave  can  you  find  for  interment, 
And  no  coffin  in  which  they  will  stay — 

Or  that  holds  the  remorse  of  wrong-doing, 
That  will  hide  it  from  heart  or  from  brain ; 

For  it  ever  the  door  is  unlocking, 
In  the  closet  it  will  not  remain. 

Then  the  child  at  its  birth  you  should  strangle, 
For  no  child  of  dark  sin  should  e'er  live. 

In  its  place,  nurse  a  child  of  right-doing, 
To  the  world  good  example  aye  give. 

Have  no  skeleton  hidden  in  closet, 

To  be  kept  under  strong  lock  and  key. 

Have  the  doors  of  your  closets  all  open, 
And  a  guard  o'er  skeleton  keep  thee. 


166 


THE    BROOK 

In  the  country,  by  the  roadside, 

Is  a  brook,  a  limpid  stream ; 
On  each  side  are  pussy  willows, — 

Through  these  trees  the  sun  doth  beam. 
In  the  past  were  cattle  browsing 

By  the  roadside  near  the  brook ; 
Brown-faced  girls  and  barefoot  laddies 

Played  their  games  in  sheltered  nook. 

In  the  brook  were  watercresses. 

Oft  in  childhood's  happy  hour 
'Xeath  the  willow's  shady  branches, 

'Neath  the  willow's  shady  bower, 
I  have  picked  the  tender  cresses, 

Wading  deep  in  sheltered  pool, 
Then  o'er  dusty  roadway  trudging 

Back  and  forth  from  country  school. 


THE    BROOK 

Growing  by  the  roadside  dusty 

Were  dandelions  and  roses  sweet, 
Buttercups  and  honeysuckles, 

Sheltered  from  the  summer's  heat. 
There  was  rustic  bridge  o'er  brooklet 

It  was  covered  thick  with  moss ; 
Many  planks  had  long  been  missing, 

But  we  cared  not  for  the  loss. 

We  would  bare  our  feet  so  nimbly, 

Then  go  dancing  through  the  pool ; 
On  the  grass  our  feet  then  wiping, 

On  the  grass  so  sweet  and  cool. 
It  so  little  takes  in  youth-time, 

In  our  careless  childhood  years, 
To  make  happy  or  cause  sadness, 

To  bring  smiles  or  bitter  tears. 


168 


GATHER  BEAMS  OF  SUNSHINE 

Let  us  gather  beams  of  sunshine, 
And  store  them,  friends,  to-day ; 

For  to-morrow  clouds  may  lower, 
And  storms  beset  our  way. 

Let  us  drop  a  word  of  kindness, — 
It  may  fall  on  heart  of  foe, 

And  may  touch  a  chord  of  love-light. 
And  dissipate  his  woe. 

Let  us  smile,  though  we  may  suffer, 
Thus  cheering  lonely  way ; 

Then  will  some  one  be  made  happy, 
Illumined  by  the  ray 

Which  doth  brighten  brow,  as  sunlight 
Dispels  the  darkest  gloom, 

And  doth  light  up  every  corner 
Of  cold  and  dreary  room. 


169 


GATHER  BEAMS  OF  SUNSHINE 

We  can  never  know  the  sorrow 
That  lurks  in  heart  of  man, 

Though  we  may  dispel  much  anguish, 
Make  bright  a  face  most  wan. 

Then  give  blessed,  joyous  laughter, — 

It  ripples  through  the  air ; 
It  will  fall  on  hearts  despondent, 

Give  pleasure  everywhere. 

Though  you  sad  may  be  and  gloomy, 
Instead  of  tears,  give  smiles ; 

And,  in  place  of  sobs,  try  laughter, — 
It  every  heart  beguiles. 

For  the  brightest  gems  are  sunbeams 
Stored  up  by  Mother  Earth, 

And  by  delving  in  her  bosom, 
These  rays  again  have  birth. 


170 


HUMANITY 

"  He  gave  a  boat  to  the  shipwrecked." 

What  more  could  ever  he  do 
Than  help  to  rescue  his  brothers, 

To  save  this  perishing  crew  ? 
He  gave  a  crumb  to  the  hungry, — 

He  had  but  little  to  give, 
But  gave  that  little  most  gladly, 

That  poorer  brother  might  live. 

He  gave  a  cup  of  cold  water 

To  a  thirsty  and  weary  man. 
He  gave  a  smile  to  a  sad  one, 

Thus  lighting  up  face  so  wan. 
He  mingled  his  tears  with  the  mourner, 

And  shared  his  sorrow  and  grief. 
Could  man  do  more  for  another 

Than  give  in  trouble  relief  ? 

171 


HUMANITY 

He  gave  his  time,  shared  his  substance,- 

He  gave  most  freely  for  aye ; 
He  vaunted  never  his  giving, 

All  grief  was  glad  to  allay. 
He  gave  a  thought  to  the  seeker 

Who,  drifting  on  with  the  tide, 
Was  thrown  far  up  on  Life's  breakers, 

Which  waves  of  Time  ever  hide. 

The  thought  he  planted  bears  fruitage, 

The  drink  he  gave  is  a  stream, 
A  river  bearing  him  heavenward. 

He  even  catches  a  gleam 
Of  light  celestial  and  holy, — 

A  light  born  not  of  this  earth, — 
A  light  that  comes  from  God's  glory. 

This  light  in  heaven  had  birth. 

He  planted  seeds  of  right  living ; 

The  seeds  that  fell  by  the  way 
Will  teach  a  lesson  to  others, 

Kind  deeds  to  scatter  alway. 

172 


RIGHT     WILL     TRIUMPH     OVER     WRONG 

Know  we,  Father,  't  is  high  wisdom 

Guiding,  ruling  e'er  our  lives. 
God,  we  call  it,  or  Jehovah, 

Mighty  force  which  with  us  strives. 
Force  beyond  us,  force  above  us, — 

Ne'er  can  we  it  change,  o'errule  ; 
Bow  we  must  in  meek  submission, 

Knowing  life  is  but  a  school. 

Learn  we  lessons,  understanding 

Never  what  they  're  meant  to  teach  ; 
Learn  by  rote,  as  parrot  learneth, 

Problems  far  beyond  our  reach, — 
Learning  ever,  yet  not  knowing 

Why  the  lesson  should  be  taught, — 
Working  ever  on  life's  problems, 

Toiling  on,  though  nothing  wrought. 


173 


RIGHT   WILL   TRIUMPH    OVER   WRONG 


Right  will  triumph  in  the  future ; 

Wrong  seems  now  to  hold  full  sway ; 
Crime  and  war  are  ever  rampant ; 

Evils  great  we  cannot  stay. 
God,  Jehovah,  look  Thou  earthward! 

Wilt  not  Thou  dark  crime  now  stay  ? 
Grant  us  peace ;  may  evil  vanish ; 

Demon  War  put  Thou  away. 

Right  the  wrongs  of  Thy  poor  children ; 

Teach  them  what  is  best  to  do. 
Of  Thy  mandates  ignorant  are  they, — 

Wilt  not  Thou  bring  them  to  view  ? 
Came  we  up  from  low  conditions, — 

Know  we  this :  we  did  not  fall. 
For  mistake,  Thou  mad'st  never  ; 

Thou  with  wisdom  ruleth  all. 


RIGHT   WILL   TRIUMPH    OVER  WRONG 


And  impatient  should  we  be  not ; 

Right  will  come  in  Thine  own  time. 
Doubt  we  never  will  Thy  wisdom, 

But  with  courage  ever  climb. 
God,  our  Father,  we  now  thank  Thee 

That,  as  children,  we  must  learn ; 
We,  as  children,  are  submissive — 

To  Thy  love  will  ever  turn. 


175 


DUTY 

Who  gives   his   life  to   duty 

Will   hardships  ever  find, 
And  many,  many  crosses, 

And  roads  that  devious  wind. 

Awaiting  him   seems   Pleasure 

At  every  turn  of  road; 
But  Duty  stands  as  sentinel, 

With  lash  to  whip  and  goad, 

Pursuing   him   forever 

Not  giving  time  for  rest, 
Though  Pleasure  stands  at  cross-roads 

Inviting  him  as  guest, — 

E'er  offering  sweet  inducements, 

To  stay  with  him  a  while. 
But  Duty  beckons  onward, 

Nor  tries  he  to  beguile 


'i  Ul*i\/£^ 

DUTY         X^"" 

With  pleasing  word  nor  promise 
That  aught  of  joy  he  win ; 

But  only  bonds,  and  bondage, 
Yet  freedom  sweet  from  sin. 

In  Pleasure's  path  are  roses ; 

She  ever  hides  the  thorn 
That  pierces  careless  fingers, — 

By  Duty  't  is  withdrawn. 

There  's  poison  in   the  chalice, — 
Oh,  drink  not  from  the  bowl 

That  Pleasure  to  thee  offers ! 
It  poisons  e'en  thy  soul. 

But  panacea  hath  Duty, 

Though  bitter  it  may  be. 
It  leaves  no  sting  nor  venom, 

Though  drunk  full  oft  by  thee. 


177 


SOMETIME 

'T  is  sunshine  always  somewhere, 

Though  clouds  are  overhead ; 
Dark  storms  besetting  pathway, 

And  filling  hearts  with  dread. 
The  clouds,  though  black  as  midnight, 

Will  sometime  clear  away; 
Then  sunshine  bright  and  glorious 

Will  light  us  on  our  way. 

Though  path  through  brambles  leading 

Among  the  shadows  deep 
Sometime  will  have  an  ending, 

If  we  the  pathway  keep. 
If  hearts  be  filled  with  sorrow, 

If  eyes  are  blind  with  tears, 
There  is  a  blessed  morrow, 

Not  gloomy  all  the  years. 


SOMETIME 

Then  turn  your  face  to  sunshine, 

Leave  shadows  far  behind; 
In  sky  you  oft  see  rainbow, 

Though  clouds  you  still  may  find. 
Why  linger,  then,  in  shadow  ? 

The  sun  doth  shine  somewhere. 
You  '11  find  it,  friend,  by  seeking 

Sometime,  though  grief  you  bear. 


'79 


MEMORIES 

Many  years  have  gone  by  since  my  childhood; 

Friends  and  neighbors  have  all  passed  away. 
By  the  hearthstone  are  sitting  now  strangers, 

And  the  home  falling  fast  to  decay. 

The  old  trees  do  now  cast  broader  shadows, — 

Not  so  deep  though  as  those  in  my  heart. 
When  I  think  of  the  loss  of  my  loved  ones, 
•  Bitter  tears  to  my  eyes  ever  start. 

Not  effaced  will  this  picture  be  ever ; 

It  is  painted  on  memory's  wall. 
The  dear  garden,  with  lilacs  and  roses, 

The  old  willow,  with  grapevine  as  pall. 

In  my  dreams  I  still  sit  on  the  door-stone 
Which  is  worn  by  loved  feet  now  at  rest. 

And  with  rev'rence  I  touch  e'en  the  door-latch, 
For  the  hands  that  I  loved  it  have  pressed. 


1 80 


MEMORIES 

The  scent  of  sweet  roses  still  lingers, 
And  the  lilac  seems  fresh  e'en  to-day. 

Still  the  sunbeams  do  light  up  the  shadows, 
And  the  breezes  blow  fresh  from  the  bay. 

But  the  days  of  the  parting  grow  shorter, 
And  the  shadows  each  hour  will  grow  less ; 

For  I  know  that  some  time  not  far  distant 
I  again  shall  know  love's  sweet  caress. 

Soon  again  I  shall  see  my  dear  mother, 
And  no  sorrow  can  dim  now  her  eyes. 

Soon  again  shall  clasp  hands  with  my  father,— 
For  the  love  of  our  loved  ones  ne'er  dies. 


181 


SMILES    OR   TEARS 

A  smile,  a  tear,  are  little  things ; 

They  warm  the  heart  or  grieve ; 
They  bless  the  home  or  make  it  sad ; 

Around  us  they  do  weave 
A  wreath  of  flowers  or  funeral  shroud, 

A  happy  heart  or  gloom, 
A  dancing  step  or  laggard  walk, 

A  hope  most  high  or  doom. 

A  smile  is  as  the  sunlight  bright, — 

Illumines  face  with  peace. 
While  tears  will  deepen  every  line, 

Seem  shadows  to  increase. 
We  bless  the  smiles,  they  cheer  our  way,- 

We  ostracize  all  tears. 
Of  life  we  '11  show  the  brightest  side, 

All  gloom  then  disappears. 


182 


KEEP  THE  UPPER  WINDOWS  OPEN" 

"  Keep  the  upper  windows  open," 

Let  the  sunlight  enter  in. 
Keep  the  floors  swept  and  garnished, 

Free  from  error  and  from  sin. 

"  Be  ye  ever  up  and  doing  " 

What  your  hands  may  find  to  do. 

Be  not  weary,  do  your  duty, — 
You  will  then  have  naught  to  rue. 

There  are  shadows  deep  and  gloomy 
In  the  home  and  in  the  heart ; 

Try  ye  ever  to  dispel  them, 

"  In  this  world  do  \vell  your  part." 

Pick  ye  up  life's  threads,  and  weave  them, 
Weave  them  on  the  loom  of  time ; 

Drop  no  stitches  in  life's  fabric, 
Trv  to  make  vour  life  sublime. 


183 


"THE    LOST    CHORD" 

A  string  is  missing  from  the  harp, 

And  silent  is  the  lute. 
No  music  in  my  heart  to-day, — 

Love's  melody  is  mute. 

Discordant  are  the  notes  I  strike, 

Discordant  is  my  song. 
A  note  is  missing  from  my  life, 

Sad  mem'ries  round  me  throng. 

No  harmony  is  in  my  soul, 
Though  all  the  world  is  fair. 

From  life's  sweet  lute  a  string  is  gone ; 
'T  is  discord  everywhere. 

Now  broken  is  the  lute  and  harp ; 

No  more  can  music  bring 
Into  my  life,  into  my  home. 

A  sad  refrain  I  sing. 

184 


GOD    GIVETH    HIS    BELOVED    SLEEP" 

Old  Father  Time  hath  sickle  sharp. 

Prepared  is  field,  the  grain  to  reap. 
A  golden  harvest  for  the  Lord, 

Who  giveth  His  beloved  sleep. 

The  grain  now  garnered  is  and  stored ; 

In  gran'ries  grand  He  sheaves  doth  keep. 
His  loved  will  rest,  their  sun  hath  set,— 

They  know  that  God  will  give  them  sleep. 

All  burdens  of  the  day  they  Ve  borne, 
Have  struggled  up  the  paths  so  steep ; 

But  life  seems  brighter  by  these  words : 
"  He  giveth  His  beloved  sleep." 

Life's  smiles  are  few,  its  joys  are  less ; 

Full  oft  in  sorrow  we  must  weep. 
But  God  hath  cheered  us  by  these  words : 

"  He  giveth  His  beloved  sleep." 


185 


'GOD    GIVETH    HIS    BELOVED    SLEEP" 

Refreshing  sleep — O  blissful  rest! 

It  causeth  hearts  with  joy  to  leap, 
To  read  these  words,  these  blessed  words : 

"  He  giveth  His  beloved  sleep." 

Departed  life, — its  sorrows,  too, — 
No  more  sad  vigil  need  we  keep. 

We  Ve  passed  beyond  all  earthly  ills, — 
God  to  His  loved  ones  gives  sweet  sleep. 

We  wake  in  heaven,  hath  vanished  grief, 

And  to  us  given  joy  so  deep. 
When  lo !  a  voice  is  heard  by  us — 

To  all  mankind  God  giveth  sleep. 

For  God  doth  love  His  children  all, — 
Will  never  make  the  least  one  weep. 

E'en  though  by  error  led  astray, 
He  still  to  them  gives  restful  sleep. 


1 86 


SIN    WILL    LEAVE    ITS    SCARS 

Into  thy  life  now  look,  O  man! 

Hast  drunk  thou  of  the  bowl 
Of  earthly  pleasures,  earthly  sins  ? 

Is  scar  left  on  thy  soul? 

All  wounds  are  healed  howe'er  so  deep; 

But  scar  will  ever  stay 
When  wound  is  made  on  soul  or  heart ; 

For  sin  exacts  full  pay 

For  all  mistakes,  whate'er  they  be, 

And  error  aye  will  bind 
Us  fast  in  fetters ;  nor  released 

Will  ever  be  mankind 

From  consequences  of  past  sin. 

Effect  doth  ever  follow  cause ; 
If  we  sow  tares,  we  reap  not  grain, 

For  such  are  Nature's  laws. 


187 


SIN   WILL   LEAVE    ITS    SCARS 

No  panacea  will  e'er  be  found 
For  hurt  when  caused  by  sin. 

Though  we  may  every  effort  make, 
The  scar  is  burned  deep  in. 

No  balm  in  Gilead  can  be  found 

The  pain  of  sin  to  ease ; 
Though  cauterized  by  every  good, 

We  cannot  find  surcease 

For  broken  laws,  though  ignorant  we 

Of  future  life's  high  goal; 
The  stab  of  sin  is  just  as  deep, 

And  scar  leaves  on  the  soul. 


1 88 


SOMETIME    AXD    SOMEWHERE 

In  the  sometime,  in  the  somewhere, 
Bright  our  hopes,  and  bright  the  day; 

In  the  future,  in  the  morrow, 
There  is  joy  and  peace  alvvay. 

In  the  springtime,  in  the  summer, 
All  the  flowers  so  perfect  are. 

In  the  winter,  storms  may  lower, 
But  our  hopes  they  do  not  mar. 

In  the  country,  in  the  city, 
We  but  see  the  brightest  part; 

For  the  sometime,  for  the  somewhere 
Is  the  joy  within  the  heart. 

Though  to  future  we  look  forward, 
We  shall  never  reach  its  goal; 

But  our  joy  is  in  the  hoping 

And  sweet  peace  within  the  soul. 


SOMETIME    AND    SOMEWHERE 


What  is  heaven  but  the  somewhere? 

What  is  hope  ? — 't  is  in  the  heart. 
All  of  peace  in  soul  is  centered. 

Is  the  joy  which  we  impart. 

You  will  find  your  heaven  in  earth-life; 

You  can  make  of  it  a  hell. 
By  your  thoughts  and  by  your  living 

You  can  make  a  prison  cell. 

Try  to  bring  the  somewhere,  sometime, 

To  the  present,  to  the  now. 
In  full  measure  it  returneth, 

If  with  love  you  all  endow. 

All  of  peace  and  all  of  gladness 
May  be  found  where'er  thou  art 

If  you  seek  it,  you  absorb  it 
In  the  somewhere  of  the  heart. 


190 


SOMETIME    AND    SOMEWHERE 


There  is  sunshine  in  the  future, 
Ever  sunshine,  ever  peace; 

There  are  never  dark  clouds  lowering, 
All  our  troubles  seem  to  cease. 

All  is  there  so  light  and  buoyant, 
And  far  better  this  than  grief ; 

And  we  feel  that  in  the  somewhere, 
In  the  sometime,  comes  relief. 


191 


WHAT    IS    LIFE? 

It  is  a  dream,  a  nightmare,  phantasy, — 

Its  morning  may  be  clear  and  fair, 
But  hot  and  sultry  at  high  noon  it  grows; 

At  night  may  come  the  lightning  glare. 
At  early  morn  no  cloud  is  in  the  sky. 

O  life,  how  beautiful  and  bright ! 
Soon  weary  cares  and  disappointments  come, 

And  darkest  clouds  obscure  the  light. 

Life  is  a  bubble  on  the  ocean  broad ; 

The  first  strong  wave  doth  bubble  break, 
And  'neath  the  billows  dark  it  buried  is, 

And  we  in  sorrow  do  awake. 
A  fleecy  cloud  obscures  Life's  shining  rays, 

And  hides  their  splendor  for  short  space, 
A  breath  of  wind  doth  blow  the  cloud  away ; 

We  see  again  Life's  sunny  face. 


192 


WHAT    IS   LIFE? 

A  flower  is  Life— 't  is  born  from  out  the  earth; 

It  blooms,  it  withers  in  a  day. 
Again  is  held  in  loving  Nature's  lap; 

It  sleeps— but  Nature's  laws  obey. 
It  hath  in  grave  a  season  short  of  rest, 

Again  dons  garb  of  bright  array, 
Again  fulfills  the  laws  of  Nature's  God,— 

Not  long  in  cold,  damp  earth  will  stay. 

We  thank  Thee,   God,   for  Life,   e'en  though  so 
short. 

E'en  though  there  be  more  tears  than  smiles, 
E'en  though  high  hopes  may  fall  to  lowest  plane, 

E'en  though  oft  tempted  by  the  wiles 
Of  serpent  fame,  ambition,  or  by  wealth, 

Of  tinkling  cymbal  and  of  brass, — 
E'en  though  our  bodies  frail  shall  turn  to  dust,— 

For  taught  are  we,  "All  flesh  is  grass,'' 

Which  grows  to-day,  then  in  the  oven  cast 

Of  buried  hope,  of  joyless  heart, 
Of  sweet  illusions,  now  forever  gone, 

Yet  claim  we,  Lord,  "Life's  better  part." 


WHAT    IS    LIFE? 

Life  is  a  breath  of  love,  a  joy,  a  woe, 

A  grief,  a  sorrow,  many  tears. 
It  is  ambition  with  its  torrid  heat, — 

A  moment  ours,  then  disappears. 
The  reaching  out  for  wealth,  and  happy  home, 

Of  honor,  paid  to  us  by  man, 
And  also  station  in  the  highest  ranks, 

These  hopes  in  our  young  life  began. 

Life  is  a  moment  here, — forever  there, — 

A  struggle  e'er  for  earthly  fame. 
Eternity  with  our  short  life  began. 

Why  struggle  we  to  make  a  name? 
To  make  a  name — a  monument  where  bow 

The  sycophants  in  whom  we  trust. 
Though  name  be  carved  on  marble,  wood,  or  stone, 

Man's  body  mingles  with  the  dust. 


194 


LIFE'S    CONFLICT 

Deceit  hath  encompassed  me,  friends  I  have  lost ; 
On  Life's  roughest  sea  my  bark  has  been  tossed. 
I  'm  weary  of  watching  the  nights  without  stars ; 
No  bow  of  sweet  promise  illumines  the  bars 
That  shut  in  my  soul,  making  gloomy  my  life. 
'T  is  toiling  on  ever,  e'en  living  is  strife. 
No  hope  in  the  future,  no  joy  in  the  past ; 
A  failure  seems  life,  with  clouds  overcast. 

Will  the  clouds  ever  break  and  the  sunlight  appear, 
And  courage  be  mine  to  vanquish  all  fear? 
My  burdens  are  heavy ;  I  cannot  them  bear. 
O  Father,  take  pity !  have  me  in  Thy  care. 
Though  dark  be  the  evening,  the  morn  will  be  light. 
You  sink  in  your  weakness — oh,  rise  in  your  might! 
To  bear  well  Life's  burdens  will  strengthen  your  soul. 
Prepared  be  for  sorrow;  its  forces  control. 


195 


LIFE'S    CONFLICT 

Your  griefs  ought  to  chasten ;  all  troubles  will  end. 

Though  burdens  be  heavy,  your  back  to  them  bend. 

If  fitted  you  are  to  bear  every  grief, 

To-morrow  brings  respite,  you  find  sweet  relief. 

Then  do  every  duty,  for  promise  hast  thou 

That  bright  is  the  crown  that  shall  rest  on  thy  brow. 

If  spirits  of  evil  now  stand  in  your  way, 

The  ghosts  overcome,  forever  them  lay. 

Though  drink  you  of  wormwood,  and  sip  you  of  rue, 

When  clouds  are  the  blackest,  more  brilliant  the  hue 

Of  Hope's  dearest  bow  that  spans  your  dull  sky : 

If  courage  is  gone,  the  poor  heart  must  die. 

Thy  blessings  are  many — why  wilt  thou  complain? 
All  flowers  are  sweeter  when  washed  by  the  rain. 
The  tempest  is  needed  as  well  as  the  dew : 
E'en  though  there  are  storm-clouds,  the  sun  is  in  view. 
To-day,  though  we  weep,  and  sorrow  be  ours, 
Refreshed  are  our  souls,  as  by  rain  are  the  flowers. 
Behind  every  grief  some  blessing  is  found. 
Though  hidden  the  river,  pure  gold  may  abound. 


196 


THE    SEASONS 

Is  gone  the  summer,  with  its  heat; 
October  cool  with  joy  we  greet. 
All  dressed  in  gorgeous  hues  the  trees. 
We  list  to  hum  of  laggard  bees. 
The  farmer's  toil  hath  not  been  vain ; 
For  stored  in  barn  is  golden  grain. 
The  clover  sweet  on  mow  is  stacked  ; 
The  yellow  corn  in  bins  is  packed. 

The  ripened  leaves  are  golden  brown, 
Seem  rare  bright  gems  from  Autumn's 

crown. 

Soon  heavy  clouds  will  blanket  throw 
O'er  frozen  lake— a  pall  of  snow. 
The  cattle  in  the  pastures  stand. 
They  seem  to  wonder  why  the  land 
Is  cold  and  hard — no  morsel-  sweet 
Is  growing  now  beneath  their  feet. 

197 


THE    SEASONS 


To  warmer  climes  the  birds  have  flown; 
Through  spicy  pines  the  winds  doth  moan; 
In  cozy  nest  the  squirrel  hides ; 
O'er  sun-kissed  rock  a  lone  snake  glides 
In  search  of  home,  through  winter's  cold; 
Deep  sleep  will  soon  his  brain  enfold. 
All  nature  seems  to  stand  now  still, 
Preparing  for  the  storm-king's  will. 

This  mighty  king,  the  snow-god  wild, 
Will  cover  well  his  sleeping  child 
With  blanket  warm,  a  shroud  so  pure 
That  e'en  to  death  it  doth  allure. 
The  firelight  dances  on  the  wall, 
From  blazing  logs ;  on  ear  doth  fall 
A  song,  a  symphony  so  sweet, 
That  angels  seem  our  souls  to  greet. 


198 


THE    SEASONS 


The  Sun  not  long  his  face  will  hide 
From  Spring,  his  fair  and  radiant  bride; 
A  smile  will  give,  a  kiss  will  throw, 
Which  frights  away  the  drifted  snow,— 
Will  give  a  dress  of  satin  sheen 
And  jewels  rare  to  deck  his  queen. 
His  bride  with  pearls  he  will  endow, 
They  fall  as  rain-drops  on  her  brow. 

A  matron  now  is  happy  Spring  - 
A  blushing  wife  with  marriage-ring. 
Bright  flowers  in  her  pathway  grow, 
Caresses  sweet  she  doth  bestow 
Upon  her  lord,  her  brilliant  king, — 
Sweet  fruit  and  flowers  to  him  doth  bring 
As  offerings  of  her  wifely  work,  - 
No  dutv  doth  she  ever  shirk. 


199 


BRING    LOVING   THOUGHTS 

Put  but  one  simple  flower 

Upon  my  bier. 
Bring  but  a  single  bud, 

And  shed  no  tear. 

Hut  think  of  some  good  deed 

I  may  have  wrought, 
Some  kindly  act  or  word 

I  may  have  brought 
Into  thy  home  and  life 

To  help  and  bless, 
To  save  thee  many  tears 

And  much  distress. 

Life's  burdens  and  its  cares 

Are  hard  to  bear. 
Send  flowers  to  weary  ones, 

Flowers  sweet  and  rare. 

200 


BRING    LOVING    THOUGHTS 

No  flowers  put  on  my  grave— 

I  need  them  not. 
I  only  ask  and  wish 

A  loving  thought 
Of  what  I  may  have  clone, 

Of  help  I  gave,— 
Mayhap  an  aiding  hand 

To  guide  and  save. 

Some  spoken  word  of  peace 

Where  once  was  strife ; 
Sweet  harmony  it  brought 

Into  thy  life. 
This  is  the  flower  to  bring 

A   loving  thought. 
Its  fragrance  never  dies, 

From  heaven  't  is  brought. 


201 


MEMORIES    OF    THE    BUTTERNUT-TREE 

Oh,  the  bright  airy  castles  I  builded 

While  I  sat  in  the  twilight  with  thee ! 
Then  my  life-ship  was  laden  with  love-thoughts, 

As  we  sat  'neath  the  butternut-tree. 

I  was  filled  with  bright  hopes  for  the  future, 
As  I  gazed  in  the  depths  of  thine  eyes, 

And  your  love  even  now  is  me  thrilling ; 
For  true  love  in  the  heart  never  dies. 

Thou  art  still  the  full  joy  of  my  being, 
Though  thy  hair  is  as  white  as  the  snow, 

Though  thine  eyes,  once  so  bright,  are  now  dimming, 
And  thy  step  is  so  feeble  and  slow. 

The  dark  shadows  of  evening  are  falling, 
Soon  the  clouds  will  obscure  our  loved  tree. 

But  my  love  for  thee  ever  grows  stronger, 

Though  our  ship  hath  sailed  long  on  life's  sea. 


202 


MEMORIES  OF  THE  BUTTERNUT-TREE 

'Neath  the  butternut-tree  I  first  met  thee ; 

It  was  there  that  I  told  thee  my  love. 
Thou  art  now  to  my  heart  as  enticing, 

For  thy  love  was  a  gift  from  above. 

In  the  morning  of  life  I  first  met  thee, 
In  thy  girlhood  so  sweet  and  so  pure. 

Thou  didst  then  give  thy  life  to  my  keeping. 
And  thy  trust  will  forever  endure. 

Even  now  I  am  building  bright  castles — 
Bright  castles  beyond  life's  rough  sea. 

Still  I  cherish  the  words  thou  hast  spoken, 
When  we  sat  'neath  the  butternut-tree. 


203 


TO-DAY 

For  all  the  buried  yesterdays 

I  will  not  shed  one  tear; 
I  loved  them  not,  I  mourn  them  not, 

I  weep  not  o'er  their  bier. 

Although  they  hover  round  my  heart 

And  beg  to  enter  in, 
No  welcome  they  shall  have  from  me, 

No  smile  from  me  shall  win. 

To-day  is  all  enough  for  me ; 

I  welcome  it  with  joy. 
It  gives  a  promise  of  sweet  rest, 

A  day  without  alloy. 

To-morrow  gives  a  beck'ning  hand — 

I  turn  my  face  away; 
I  '11  not  invite  her  to  my  home — 

I  only  love  To-day. 

204 


TO    THE    CALIFORNIA    POPPY 

Fit  emblem  them  of  our  loved  State, 
With  satin  gown  of  golden  sheen, 

Thy  glorious  face  reflects  the  sun, 

Thou  art  of  all  our  flowers  the  queen. 

Majestic  standest  them,  erect, 

Defying  sun,  defying  heat, 
But  when  the  shadows  on  thee  fall 

Thy  petals  close,  them  canst  not  meet 
The  gloom  that  now  around  thee  lies ; 

For  them  wert  born  for  sunshine  bright, 
Thou  sleepest  when  the  shadows  come, 

And  waken  only  to  the  light. 

O  golden  flower,  of  golden  State! 

Thy  mother  now  is  proud  of  thee — 
Hast  placed  thee  on  her  banner  bright, 

Thou  wilt  her  future  emblem  be. 


205 


DOST    REMEMBER? 

Doth  the  rosebud  remember 

Its  life  before  this — 
All  its  struggles  for  freedom 

From  out  the  abyss 
Of  the  earth,  its  fond  parent, 

Who  nursed  with  such  care 
All  the  branches  and  flowers 

Which  the  rose-bush  doth  bear  ? 

Dost   remember,   O    rain-drop, 

Thy  home  in  the  sea, 
When  the  sun  with  fond  wooing 

Spake  love-words  to  thee, 
Aye  alluring  thee  upward, 

E'er  enticing  thee  on, 
Then  his  face  from  thee  hiding 

When  thy  love  he  had  won? 

206 


DOST  REMEMBER? 

Doth  the  soul  now  remember 

When  first  it  had  birth  ? 
Was  its  heritage  heaven, 

Or  its  legacy  earth  ? 
Doth  it  know  what  its  future, 

Doth  it  know  what  its  past  ? 
To  the  heights  is  it  rising, 

Or  to  depths  is  it  cast  ? 

We  may  seek  for  this  knowledge, 

But  wre  seek  all  in  vain ; 
It  is  hidden  in  darkness. 

In  oblivion  is  lain. 
We  may  hope  for  the  future, 

Though  not  knowing  the  past, 
For  the  soul  and  its  problems 

So  profound  are  and  vast. 


207 


WHAT    IS    THOUGHT? 

We  do  not  know,  we  cannot  think 
What  is  a  thought,  or  what  its  power, 

From  whence  it  comes,  or  what  its  strength, 
Bequeathed  though  it  to  us  as  dower. 

Does  thought  from  brain  or  spirit  come  ? 

Is  it  an  essence  from  the  soul  ? 
Is  it  a  gift  alone  to  man? 

And  only  man  doth  it  control  ? 

A  fickle  goddess  Thought  at  times, — 
Try  ne'er  so  hard  we  catch  her  not. 

We  try  to  think ;  't  is  all  in  vain,— 
Imprisoned  never  is  a  thought. 

Like  lightning  flashing  through  the  clouds, 
It  comes — a  light,  and  then  is  gone, 

A  star  which  falls  adown  through  space, 
Again  it  comes  as  morning  dawn. 

208 


WHAT    IS    THOUGHT? 

Full  oft  a  thought  in  brain  of  man 

Doth  play  the  game  of  "hide  and  seek." 

Though  hunt  we  may  from  morn  till  night, 
The  thought,  more  subtle,  doth  bespeak 

A  nook  or  cranny,  where  it  hides, 

And  search  though  w^e  from  morn  till  night, 

We  search  in  vain,  't  is  hidden  well, 
And  ne'er  again  will  come  to  light. 

Then,  thought  will  come  all  unannounced ; 

We  do  not  wish  to  entertain. 
Impatiently  it  waits  at  door — 

To  shut  it  out  is  all  in  vain. 


209 


WHAT    THOUGHT    MAY    BE 

A  blaze  of  glory,  or  a  demon  wild, 
A  phantom  dark,  or  angel  child, 
A  blessing  sweet,  or  curse  most  dire, 
A  chilling  blast,  or  scorching  fire, 
A  wave  so  wild  on  storm-tossed  sea, 
An  inland  lake  of  mystery. 

A  meteor  flashing  through  the  sky, 

A  bird  who  sinks  to  earth  to  die, 

A  grief  which  long  in  heart  hath  lain, 

A  love,  a  joy,  a  deep,  deep  pain, 

A  coffin,   grave,   a   funeral  shroud, 

A  home,  a  bride,  a  black,  black  cloud. 

A  blasting  wind,  a  zephyr  sweet, 
A  lurid  sky,  then  storms  we  meet, 
A  lion  strong,  then  gentle  dove, 
A  demon  hate,  or  angel's  love, 
A  sob,  a  tear,  a  laugh,  a  smile, 
A  happy  dream  which   doth  beguile. 

210 


WHAT    THOUGHT    MAY    BE 


A  faith,  an  error,  unbelief, 

A  hope,  injustice,   causing  grief, 

A  paradise,  a  heaven,  a  hell, 

A  pit  in  which  sweet  hope  must  dwell, 

A  gentle  mercy,  selfish  greed. 

A  charity,  a  loving  deed. 

A  thought !     Who  can  define  its  power  ? 

A  thorn  it  is,  a  fragrant  flower, 

A  benediction  sweet  and  pure, 

A  curse  which  oft  we  must  endure, 

A  grave,  a  sepulcher  so  deep, 

Aye  filled  with  bones  o'er  which  we  weep. 


A  hope  fulfilled  of  plans  so  bright, 
A  cloudless  morn,  then  darkest  night, 
A  loving  heart  is  thought  of  bliss, 
A  gift  from  heav'n,  a  mother's  kiss, 
A  wave  of  murder,   rapine,  lust, 
A  friendship  pure,  in  which  we  trust. 


211 


WHAT    THOUGHT    MAY    BE 


A  deed   from  envious  malice   wrung, 
A  song  by  sweet-voiced  seraph  sung, 
A  birth,  a  death,  a  mother's  prayer, — 
To  save  her  child,  she  all  will  dare, — 
Her  love  will  cling  to  him,  though  he 
Should  sin  throughout  eternity. 


212 


FINALE. 

These  few  thoughts  will  now  be  scattered.  If  a  stray 
thought-waif  shall  be  found  and  given  a  home  in  some 
heart,  there  to  be  nourished  and  cared  for,  its  foster 
parent  will  be  repaid  threefold. 

With  loving  thoughts, 

ARDELIA  COTTON  BARTON. 


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